Artificial hybridisation:-

• It is one of the major approaches of the crop improvement program.
• In this, desired pollen grains are used for pollination. This is achieved by emasculation & bagging techniques.
• Emasculation is the removal of anthers (using forceps) from the bisexual flower bud of the female parent before the anther dehisces.
• Emasculated flowers are covered with a suitable bag (made up of butter paper) to prevent contamination of their stigma with unwanted pollen. This is called bagging.
• When the stigma attains receptivity, mature pollen grains collected from the anthers of the male parent are dusted on the stigma. Then the flowers are rebagged and allowed to develop the fruits.
• If the female parent produces unisexual flowers, there is no need for emasculation. The female flower buds are bagged before the flowers open. When the stigma becomes receptive, pollination is carried out using the desired pollen, and the flower is rebagged.