Question

List the different steps taken to ensure cross pollination in a hermaphrodite

Answer 1

The procedures that ensures cross pollination in hermaphrodite flowers is artificial hybridisation. 

Artificial hybridization of plants involves the following steps:  

(a) Emasculation:  It involves removal of anthers. This prevents the transfer of pollen within flower i.e self pollination.
(b) Bagging:  Emasculated flower is immediately bagged to avoid pollination by any foreign pollen grains. These bags are made up of butter paper, fine cloth or polythene depending on the inflorescence. Male plants which will provide pollens are also bagged to avoid contamination of pollen with any foreign pollen.  
(c) Tagging:  The emasculated and bagged flowers are tagged bearing the date of emasculation, date of pollination and name of cross with name of female parent followed by X and then name of male parents for keeping proper record of artificial hybridization.  
(d) Pollination:  Mature and fertile pollen grains are collected from male parent, bag is opened and pollen grains are dusted on receptive stigma with the help of brush.
(e) Rebagging: After pollination, the flowers are rebagged till the fruits begin to ripen. The fruits contain seeds of hybrid variety.