Question

While planning for an artificial hybridization programme involving dioecious plants, which of the following steps would not be relevant?

• A. Collection of pollen
• B. Emasculation
• C. The dusting of pollen on the stigma
• D. Bagging of the female flower

Answer 1

The correct option is B Emasculation

Artificial hybridisation is one of the major approaches of the crop improvement programme to combine desirable characters for production of commercially superior varieties. Two precautionary measures in artificial hybridisation are emasculation and bagging. Emasculation is the removal of anther from the flower bud with forceps so that the chances of self-pollination are eliminated. Emasculated flowers need to be covered with a butter paper bag to prevent their stigma from contamination with unwanted pollen. There is no need for emasculation in unisexual flowers. Instead the female flowers are directly bagged to prevent contamination. The rest of the steps are carried normally.