Module: | Double Fertilization & Endosperm
Q76: Consider the following statements regarding the timing and precision of emasculation in artificial hybridization:
1. Emasculation must be executed on bisexual flowers strictly during the bud stage, well before the anthers mature and dehisce.
2. If the female parent naturally produces unisexual pistillate flowers, the emasculation step is completely bypassed.
3. The optimal and safest time to perform emasculation is when the flower has fully opened and the stigma is visibly secreting its receptive exudate.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. If the female parent naturally produces unisexual pistillate flowers, the emasculation step is completely bypassed.
3. The optimal and safest time to perform emasculation is when the flower has fully opened and the stigma is visibly secreting its receptive exudate.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: A
The correct option is A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, but Statement 3 is practically disastrous for plant breeding.
Artificial hybridization requires absolute control over paternity.
For bisexual flowers, breeders must physically remove the anthers (emasculation) using forceps.
Causally, this must be done while the flower is still a tightly closed bud.
If one waits until the flower has opened and the stigma is receptive (as suggested in Statement 3), the flower's own anthers will likely have already dehisced, resulting in irreversible self-pollination and ruining the experiment.
Statement 2 is logically correct: if a plant is dioecious or produces only female (pistillate) flowers, there are zero anthers to remove, so the breeder simply bags the female buds directly to prevent contamination from ambient wind or insects until ready for dusting.
Artificial hybridization requires absolute control over paternity.
For bisexual flowers, breeders must physically remove the anthers (emasculation) using forceps.
Causally, this must be done while the flower is still a tightly closed bud.
If one waits until the flower has opened and the stigma is receptive (as suggested in Statement 3), the flower's own anthers will likely have already dehisced, resulting in irreversible self-pollination and ruining the experiment.
Statement 2 is logically correct: if a plant is dioecious or produces only female (pistillate) flowers, there are zero anthers to remove, so the breeder simply bags the female buds directly to prevent contamination from ambient wind or insects until ready for dusting.