Artificial hybridisation is one of the major approaches of crop improvement programme. In such crossing experiments it is important to make sure that only the desired pollen grains are used for pollination and the stigma is protected from contamination. This can be achieved by following step:
(1) Emasculation – If the female parent bears bisexual flowers, anthers are removed from the floral bud before the anther dehisces using a pair of forceps.
(2) Bagging – Emasculated flowers have to be covered with a bag of suitable size, generally made up of butter paper, to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollen.
(3) When the stigma of bagged flower attains receptivity, mature pollen grains collected from anthers of the male parent are dusted on the stigma, and the flowers are rebagged, and the fruits are allowed to develop.
