Question

You are a Botanist, working in the area of plant breeding. Describe the various steps that you will undertake to release a new variety.

Answer 1

When the botanist is working in the field of breeding plants and developing a new variety, there are certain steps which are followed. The new plant variety can be developed by using different techniques. Some of the common techniques are described as follows:

(1) Protoplast fusion: The method is also known as somatic hybridisation. The protoplasts of the cells of two different plants are used. the protoplast is fused using different chemicals like PEG. This results in the formation of a cell with both the characters. The cell can be cultured to develop the plant.

(2) Emasculation and bagging: The plants which are selected are used for the process of cross pollination. This is part of the hybridisation technique. The anthers are removed from the bisexual flower which is known as emasculation to prevent self pollination. The flowers are bagged to prevent pollination from any other sources. The flower is dusted with pollens of the selected male plant and cross pollination is achieved. This results in the development of a variety with the characters of plants which are genetically different.

(3) Hybidisation: Different techniques like grafting can be used to develop a new variety. The two plants of desirable characters are selected and used for grafting. This results in development of plant with new set of characters.