Hybridization - A common method to get hybrid seed in plants

Hybridization

• The method in which crosses are made between two genetically different plants to get new variety is called Hybridization.

• It produces greater opportunity in crop improvement programs than any other breeding method.  There are various methods of hybridization.

Inter-varietal hybridization

• It is cross between the plants of the same varieties.

• This method is useful in self pollinated plants if they are different in terms of genotypes. 

Read more about the Mutation breeding in crop improvement 

• It is very useful in cross pollinating plants because they are genetically different. 

Intra varietal hybridization

• It is cross between two different varieties of the same species.

• Most of the varieties of cereal are produced by these methods. 

Interspecific

hybridization

• It refers to the cross between the plant of two different species of the same genus.

• This method is used in inheritance of genes of desired character in plant breeding. 

Intergeneric hybridization

• It means the cross between two plants of different genus.

• Triticale has been developed by these methods.

The process of hybridization

• It contains the following steps. The first step is selection in parent. The plants are selected with great care and analysing their desirable character.

Read more about the Selection : A method of crop improvement 

• Second step is selfing of the parent plant by artificial methods. It is the important step for eliminating the undesirable character.

• Third step is emasculation. It is the process of removal of stamen from those plants in which name and female reproductive structure are found in the same plant.

• The main purpose of emasculation is to prevent the self fertilisation. Emasculation is done by forcep or scissor.

• It may be also done by dipping the pedicle in hot water for a definite period. Some time alcohol also can be used.

• The fourth step is bagging. In this method male and female reproductive flowers are covered by butter paper or cloth or cellophane.

• This method is done to prevent unwanted pollen grains from stamen  to pistil.

• Fifth step is crossing .It is an artificial method of cross pollination.

• In this method, desirable pollen grains are collected from male plants and transferred to emasculated female flower.

• The crossed flower should be labelled properly.

Read more about the Production of Triticale by Polyploidy breeding

• Last step is to collect and store seeds that are produced after the artificial cross pollination.

• The seeds are called hybrid and can be used in the next growing season.