Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:-
Plant breeders aim to create new and improved varieties by crossing different species, and sometimes even genera, to combine desirable traits. To achieve successful crossbreeding, it is crucial to ensure that only the intended pollen grains are used for pollination, while also protecting the stigma from any unintended contamination. This careful selection and controlled pollination process helps breeders create commercially superior varieties with specific traits.
Given below are the events that are observed in an artificial hybridisation programme. Arrange them in the correct sequential order in which they are followed in the hybridisation programme.
(a) Re-bagging
(b) Selection of parents
(c) Bagging
(d) Dusting the pollen on stigma
(e) Emasculation
(f) Collection of pollen from male parent
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → b,e,c,f,d,a
In an artificial hybridisation programme, the breeder first chooses the two parents. In a female parent with bisexual flowers, the anthers are removed from the bud before they dehisce, and the flower is then covered with a bag so that no unwanted pollen reaches the stigma. When the stigma becomes receptive, pollen collected from the male parent is dusted on it, and the flower is bagged again.
(b) Selection of parents → (e) Emasculation → (c) Bagging → (f) Collection of pollen from male parent → (d) Dusting the pollen on stigma → (a) Re-bagging
So the correct order is b, e, c, f, d, a.
NCERT Extract:
Pollination – “… If the female parent bears bisexual flowers, removal of anthers from the flower bud before the anther dehisces using a pair of forceps is necessary. This step is referred to as emasculation. Emasculated flowers have to be covered with a bag of suitable size, generally made up of butter paper, to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen. This process is called bagging. When the stigma of bagged flower attains receptivity, mature pollen grains collected from anthers of the male parent are dusted on the stigma, and the flowers are rebagged, and the fruits allowed to develop.”