Question

As a senior biology student you have been asked to demonstrate to the students of secondary level in your school, the procedure(*) that shall ensure cross-pollination in a hermaphrodite flower. List the different steps that you would suggest and provide reasons for each one of them.

Answer 1

Emasculation, removal of anthers from the flower bud before the anther dehisces to avoid self-pollination.

Bagging, to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen grains.

Rebagging, the stigma of the mature of the mature ovary are dusted with desired pollen grains and rebagged to allow the fruit to develop.

Detailed Answer :

Cross-pollination of a hermaphrodite flower can be achieved by :

(i) Emasculation : It is the process of removal of anthers (using {orceps) from the **** flower bud without affecting the female reproductive part, i.e., Pistil.

(ii) B**agging :** The emasculated flower is then covered with a suitable bag so as to Prevent' Contamination of the stigma with unwanted pollen grains When the stigma of the bagged flower becomes receptive, the pollen grains collected from the other flower are dusted onto the stigma and then the flower is re-bagged and allowed to develop the fruits.