Question

The process of removal of anther from the flower bud before it dehisces is called as
a. Emasculation
b. Bagging
c. Embryo rescue
d. Budding

Answer 1

Hint: The anther is the key structure of the male reproductive structure in flowers. It sits on the top of the stamen and is known to produce and store the pollen grains. Removal of anther usually takes place in bisexual flowers which is carried out by plant breeders.

Complete answer:
> Option (A) is correct.
The emasculation technique is usually used by plant breeders in bisexual flowers to remove the anthers from the stamen of the flower without affecting the female reproductive part i.e., the pistil of the flower. This emasculated flower is then bagged in butter paper to protect the stigma of this flower from pollinating with undesired pollen grains and further this stigma can be cross-pollinated with desired pollens to produce the desired variety of the plant.

> Option (B) is incorrect.
Bagging is a technique used by plant breeders to protect the stigma of the emasculated flower from pollinating with undesired pollen grains. In this technique, the emasculated flower is covered with butter paper so that only desired pollen grains stick to the stigma of the emasculated flowers.

> Option (C) is incorrect.
Embryo rescue is an in vitro technique that serves the purpose of promoting the development of an immature or weak embryo into a whole viable plant. It is used in the production of plants through hybridization techniques where there is a failure in the proper development of endosperm which leads to embryo abortion.

> Option (D) is incorrect.
Budding is an asexual method of production of a new plant. This new plant is formed by a vegetative propagation method from the detachment of bud from the parent plant which develops into a whole new plant.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Plant breeding techniques have been used to develop a new variety of plants with improved nutritional quality and other superior traits that are useful in agricultural applications. Emasculation is one such technique in which anthers are removed from the flower bud without affecting the pistil of the flower.