Question

Select the plant species, where emasculation is not required for artificial hybridisation experiment.

• A. Castor
• B. Maize
• C. Papaya
• D. Wheat

Hint:

To remember this, think of the "Single-Sex" rule: If the flower doesn't have "boys" (anthers), you don't need to "evict" them (emasculation).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Emasculation is the removal of anthers from a flower bud before they dehisce to prevent self-pollination. This process is only necessary for bisexual (hermaphrodite) flowers that contain both male and female reproductive parts.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Bisexual Flowers: Wheat contains both stamens and carpels in the same flower, so it requires emasculation.
2. Monoecious Plants: Castor and Maize are monoecious, meaning they have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. While you can bypass emasculation by simply bagging the female flower, it is still often performed on the plant level.
3. Dioecious Plants: Papaya is dioecious, meaning an individual plant is either male or female. Since a female papaya plant produces flowers that have no anthers at all, there is no risk of self-pollination, and thus emasculation is never required.
Step 3: Final Answer
Emasculation is not required for Papaya because it is a dioecious plant.