Question

For hybridization, in which of the following crops, the florets are clipped at the top to expose the anthers?

• A. Barley
• B. Jute
• C. Sunnhemp
• D. Sunflower

Hint:

In small-grain cereals like barley and wheat, clipping the top of the glumes is the standard practice to gain physical access to the small, delicate, enclosed anthers during emasculation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Emasculation is the removal of immature anthers from bisexual flowers before they can shed pollen, preventing self-pollination in hybridization programs. The choice of emasculation technique is dictated by floral morphology.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a self-pollinated cereal crop belonging to the grass family Poaceae.
The barley floret is tightly closed and protected by the outer lemma and inner palea.
Because the reproductive organs are entirely enclosed, performing manual emasculation without opening the floret is impossible.
To resolve this, breeders use the clipping method during emasculation. The upper one-third of the lemma and palea of the developing florets is cut off with fine scissors.
This clipping exposes the tips of the three immature, green anthers.
Once exposed, the anthers can be cleanly extracted using fine forceps without causing physical damage to the delicate, feathery stigma.
This clipping technique is standard in barley and wheat, but is not used in crops like jute, sunnhemp, or sunflower due to their open or composite floral structures.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the crop where florets are clipped at the top during emasculation is barley.