Question

What is not true about the emasculation of a flower while performing an artificial cross?
A. It is the removal of anthers from the flower
B. It is done before anthesis
C. It is to avoid self-pollination
D. It is done in flowers of plants selected as a male plant

Answer 1

Hint: Emasculation technique is performed by only plant breeders. It is a process of removal of anthers from a bisexual flower such that self-pollination is not favored. This process has to be carried out before the onset of the flowering period.

Complete answer:
• Emasculation is a primary step in Artificial fertilization.
• The steps of emasculation are as follows:
- Removal of enters from bisexual flowers of the female parent plant. This step is performed before maturing of anthers.
- Emasculation prevents self-pollination in a bisexual flower.

• Self-pollination and cross-pollination are the two types of pollination.
• Artificial hybridization is carried out to overcome pollen-stigma incompatibility.
• Compatibility among pollen-stigma is very essential for pollination and successful fertilization.
• Before the onset of flowering, anthers have to be removed from a bisexual flower as they may shed pollen grains.
• Emasculation protects the flower from contamination.
• The emasculation process ensures the quality of the crop along with the desirable traits.
• After removing the flower the plant is covered with a bag.
• As a result, desirable flowers with desirable traits are obtained.
• The above steps have to be carried out only by an expert plant breeder.
• It is essential to know flower structure, anatomy and physiology of flowers, and also fertilization.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Both emasculation and bagging protect the flower from contamination. Bagging in the case of bisexual flowers is carried out after removing anthers and in the case of the unisexual flower, it is carried out before the flower opens. Emasculation is a very important process of artificial hybridization.