While planning for an artificial hybridisation programme involving dioecious plants, which of the following steps would not be relevant:
a. Bagging of female flower
b. A dusting of pollen on stigma
c. Emasculation
d. Collection of pollen
The answer is the option (c) Emasculation
Emasculation is the removal of anther from the flower bud with forceps so that the chances of self-pollination are eliminated. In the case of a dioecious plant, male and female flowers are not usually on a single plant. Hence, emasculation may not be necessary in certain cases.