Hybridization (1)
Hybridization (1)
Hybridization (1)
Individual produced as a result of cross between two genetically different parents is known as
hybrid. The natural or artificial process that results in the formation of hybrid is known as
hybridization. The production of a hybrid by crossing two individuals of unlike genetical
constitution is known as hybridization. Hybridization is an important method of combining
characters of different plants. Hybridization does not change genetic contents of organisms but it
produces new combination of genes.
The first natural hybridization was recorded by Cotton Mather (1716) in corn. The first artificial
interspecific plant hybrid was produced by Thomas Fairchild in 1717. It is commonly known
as ‘Fairchild Mule’.
Hybridization was first of all practically utilized in crop improvement by German botanist
Joseph Koerauter in 1760. Mendel onward, the hybridization had become the key method of crop
improvement. Today, it is the most common method of crop improvement, and the vast majority
of crop varieties have resulted from hybridization.
Objectives of Hybridization:
I. To artificially create a variable population for the selection of types with desired combination
of characters.
Types of Hybridization:
Hybridization may be of following types:
(i) Intra-varietal hybridization:
The crosses are made between the plants of the same variety.
Procedure of Hybridization:
It involves the following steps:
(i) Selection of parents.
(iii) Emasculation.
(iv) Bagging
(v) Tagging
vi) Crossing
The selection of parents depends upon the aims and objectives of breeding. Parental plants must
be selected from the local areas and are supposed to be the best suited to the existing conditions.
(iii) Emasculation:
It is the third step in hybridization. Inbreeds are grown under normal conditions and are
emasculated. Emasculation is the removal of stamens from female parent before they burst and
shed their pollens.
It can be defined as the removal of stamens or anthers or the killing of the pollen grains of a
flower without affecting in any way the female reproductive organs. Emasculation is not
required in unisexual plants but it is essential in bisexual or self-pollinated plants.
ii. Stigma should be receptive and anthers should not have dehisced
iii. All the anthers should be removed from the flowers without breaking (Fig. 6).
A 35 cm long rubber tube or belt is stretched over the side of the container, and when in use this
tube is tied around the peduncle of the head. To measure the temperature, in the upper side of the
container a thermometer is placed. In the field water is carried in a thermos jug (Fig. 7).
The panicle is inserted in the container prior to blooming for a particular duration of time. It has
been observed that pollen grains of rice are killed by immersing the inflorescence for 5 to 10
minutes in the hot water maintained at 40-44°C in a thermos flask.
(iv) Bagging:
It is the fourth step and completed with emasculation. The emasculated flower or inflorescence is
immediately bagged to avoid pollination by any foreign pollen. The bags may be made of paper,
butter paper, glassine or fine cloth. Butter paper or vegetable parchment bags are most
commonly used.
The bags are tied to the base of the inflorescence or to the stalk of the flower with the help of
thread, wire or pins. The bagging is done with the emasculation in bisexual plants and before the
stigma receptivity and dehiscence of the anthers in unisexual plants. Both male and female
flowers are bagged separately to prevent contamination in male flowers and cross-pollination in
female flowers (Fig. 8).
(v) Tagging:
The emasculated flowers are tagged just after bagging. Generally circular tags of about 3 cm or
rectangular tags of about 3 x 2 cm are used. The tags are attached to the base of flower or
inflorescence with the help of thread.
The information on tag must be as brief as possible but complete bearing the following
information:
(i) Number referring to the field record
(iv) Name of the female parent is written first followed by a cross sign
(x) and then the male parent, e.g., C x D denotes that C is the female parent and D is the male
parent.
(vi) Crossing:
It is the sixth step. It can be defined as the artificial cross-pollination between the genetically
unlike plants. In this method mature, fertile and viable pollens from the male parent are placed
on the receptive stigma of emasculated flowers to bring about fertilization.
Pollen grains are collected in petridishs (e.g., Wheat, cotton etc.) or in paper bags {e.g., maize)
and applied to the receptive stigmas with the help of a camel hair brush, piece of paper, tooth
pick or forceps. In some crops (e.g., Jowar, Bajra) the inflorescences of both the parents are
enclosed in the same bag.
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