A plant breeder has two varieties of plants, one that produces larger fruits and the other that produces more number of fruits. He wants to ensure desired pollination among the flowers of these two varieties so as to make a plant with both the characteristics. Describe the procedure he would employ to ensure desired pollination, if the plants are:
- Bisexual
- Unisexual
[5 marks]
A plant breeder has two varieties of plants, one that produces larger fruits and the other that produces more number of fruits. He wants to ensure desired pollination among the flowers of these two varieties so as to make a plant with both the characteristics. Describe the procedure he would employ to ensure desired pollination, if the plants are:
- Bisexual
- Unisexual
a) The process which the plant breeder would employ to ensure desired pollination, if the plants produce bisexual flower is mentioned below: i) Emasculation: In this process, anthers are removed from the flower bud before the anther dehisces by using a pair of forceps. [1 mark]
ii) Bagging: In this process, the emasculated flowers are covered by using a bag of suitable size. This process is known as bagging. This is done to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen. [1]
iii) When the stigma of the bagged flowers attains receptivity, mature pollen grains collected from the anthers of the desired male parents are dusted on the stigma, and flowers are bagged again, and the fruits are allowed to develop. [1]
b) If the plants produce unisexual flowers, there is no need for emasculation. Only bagging is done, in which the flower buds are bagged before the flowers reopen. [1]
When the stigma becomes receptive, pollination is carried out by using the desired pollen and the flowers are bagged again. [1]
i) Emasculation: In this process, anthers are removed from the flower bud before the anther dehisces by using a pair of forceps. [1 mark]
ii) Bagging: In this process, the emasculated flowers are covered by using a bag of suitable size. This process is known as bagging. This is done to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen. [1]
iii) When the stigma of the bagged flowers attains receptivity, mature pollen grains collected from the anthers of the desired male parents are dusted on the stigma, and flowers are bagged again, and the fruits are allowed to develop. [1]
b) If the plants produce unisexual flowers, there is no need for emasculation. Only bagging is done, in which the flower buds are bagged before the flowers reopen. [1]When the stigma becomes receptive, pollination is carried out by using the desired pollen and the flowers are bagged again. [1]
