Question

(a) Plan an experiment and prepare a flow chart of the steps that you would follow to ensure that the seeds are formed only from the desired sets of pollen grains. Name the type of experiments that you carried out.
(b) Write the importance of such experiments.

Answer 1

Hint: The procedure that ensures that the seeds are formed from the desired sets of pollen grains is Artificial Hybridization. These desired sets of pollen grains are used for pollination and fertilization. Pollination is when the pollen grains from the anthers reach the stigma of the same flower of the same plant or to a different flower of the same plant (self-pollination) or to a different flower variety (cross pollination).

Complete Answer:
Artificial Hybridization includes the following steps like emasculation and bagging:
1. Emasculation: Removing the stamens or anthers or killing of pollen grains of a bisexual flower without affecting the female reproductive organs is called emasculation. This is usually done using a forceps and before the anthers dehisces.
2. Bagging: These flowers must be covered with a plastic bag or butter paper bag of suitable size, to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen.

(a) Experiment and flowchart of artificial hybridization:

(b) Importance of Artificial Hybridization:
- Helps to improve crop yield.
- Ensures that the crops produced have desired characters.
- Helps to yield superior or improved varieties.

Thus, the experiment carried out is Artificial hybridization.

Note: If the female plant produces unisexual flowers, there is no need for emasculation. The female flower buds are covered with a bag before the flowers open. Pollination is carried out using the desired pollen when the stigma is ready for pollination and the flower is re-bagged.