Question

How artificial pollination is useful to plant breeders ? Discuss briefly.

Answer 1

Artificial pollination means transfer of pollen to the stigma artificially. In ancient times, it was a common practice to sprinkle “male flowers of palms on the “female flowers”. However, in modem era, plant breeders us artificial pollination for developing new varieties. The breeders remove the anthers in young flowers and cover such flowers by plastic bags. Such flowers are then pollinated with pollen from the plants of the desired variety.