AND TAGGING FOR CONTROLLED

8.1 TO PERFORM EMASCULATION, BAGGING

POLLINATION
hat receives genes from each of
to produce progeny
Controlled pollination is a technique
used in plant improvement
pollen from
one plant to the receptive female
Controlled pollination consists of transferring
two known parent plants.
while excluding all other pollen.
reproductive organs of another plant

Aim
emasculation, bagging and tagging for controlled pollination.
To perform
Materials Required
flowers Magnifying lens
Ornamental plants/ wild plants bearing large bisexual
Brush
Tweezers Small sharp scissors
Alcohol Rubber bands Paper bags
Paper clips Tags

Theory/Principle that lead to better seed

programmes involve
under human control reproductive processes
bringing
Plant breeding female parents having desired
is desirable using male and
and better fruit formation. For this, controlled pollination the knowledge of flower
under human control. For this
traits. Emasculation is the process that can be easily brought
essential. In emasculation technique,
structure, mechanisnm of pollination,
fertilisation and physiology of flowering is
male parent is transferred
female parent and pollen from the desired
the stamens are removed before anthesis to obtain
on to its stigma.

Procedure
Select a good variety of a plant.
Now, select aflower in bud condition where antheses has not occurred.

the bud carefully and remove the

stamens (See fig.). Mark this as female parent plant.
Open

Scissor

Stamens being removed

Showing Emasculation of a flower

BIoLOGY-12

160 ACTICAL SKILLSI N

 Cover the emasculated tlower with a
nollen (Bagging) (See fig.). Tie the
transparent plastic bag with minute pores in it to sired
bag in place with a paper pioc
clip/string/thread.
Plastic bag

..
..

Female flower

Bagging of an emasculated female flower

Now, bring into physical contact anthers of a desired male plant containing mature pollen grains with the stigmatic
surface of emasculated female flower (see fig.). Use tweezers/brush if necessary to dust the stigmatic surface
with pollen.

Stigma of female plant

. **.
. .

Dusting of pollens of male plant

pollination on an emasculated female flower

cross
Showing
bag immediately, till seed setting is completed in the flower.
the
Again, cover the pollinated flower again with
should be fixed below the flower.
a tag (label)
After controlled pollination,
and
seed parent, the letter A (to signify a cross), the name of the pollen parent,
The tag contains the name of the
effected.
the date on which the cross was

161
PRACTICAL SKILS IN BIoLOGY-12
Observations
undisturbed and under observation
till seed setting and harvestino Thiis
the plant is kept
After controlled pollination,
leads to the success of
the experiment.

Result
plant will produce seeds of the desired characteristics
process of
controlled pollination, the female parent
By the

APrecautions
be selected.
A good variety of parent plant should
Care should be taken while doing emasculation.
should be done till seed setting.
A f t e r controlled pollination. proper care of experimental plant
Suggested Experiment
in the plant of your choice to get a hybrid plant.
1. To perform the process of emasculation, bagging and tagging

VIVA VoCE
Q1. What is plant breeding?
purposely crossed to produce a new hybrid
Ans. It is the process in which two genetically dissimilar varieties are

variety.
Q2. Which is the oldest method of plant improvement?
Ans. Selection
Q3. What are the objectives of plant breeding?
resistance to diseases, climatic adaptability.
Ans. It aims to produce a new variety with the desired characteristics such as
and better productivity.
Q4. What is emasculation?
anthers from bisexual flowers without affecting the female reproductive
Ans. Emasculation is the process of removing
part (pistil).
Q5. Why is bagging done?
emasculated flower.
Ans. It is done to isolate the

NCERT LAB MANUAL QUESTIONS F

anthesis?
Q1. Why is emasculation performed before
Ans. During anthesis, pollen grains are released which lead to pollination ofthe flower. So, before anthesis emasculation
must be done to get female flower ready for cross-pollination.

Q2. What are the advantages of using a bag containing minute pores?
Ans. A plastic bag with minute pores allows the gaseous exchange needed for the plant but protect it from undesired
pollen.

162 PRACHCAL SKLLs IN BiOLOGY-12