Floral biology, crossing and selfing techniques in wheat

FLORAL BIOLOGY OF WHEAT Wheat flowers are gathered in spikes. Each spikes consists of a main axis or rachis on which spikelet's are distributed laterally. From rachis some filaments arise terminated by the glumes that enclose flower until they begins to mature. Flower are protected by two bracts: the inner is called palea and outer is called lemma. The flower is topped with a beard that gives the ear of wheat a feathery appearance.

FLORAL BIOLOGY Wheat flowers do not have petals or sepals. Each female flower consists of an ovary from which two styles emerge, finished with two feathery sticky stigmas each. The male flowers have three stamens that can be gold, green or violet.

SELFING TECHNIQUES IN WHEAT Wheat is a self pollinated crop. But to ensures selfing the inflorescence is covered with a butter paper cover prior to anthesis, and kept undisturbed till the flower opening completed. GENETIC EMASCULATION:- genetic or cytoplasmic male sterility may be used for crossing. This us useful in the commercial production of hybrids .

CROSSING TECHNIQUES IN WHEAT EMACULATION :- On emergence of the ear upper 1/3rd of the spikelet is cut and lower spikelets are also removed.  Of the remaining spikelets alternate ones on both sides of the axis are removed.  The top spikele is held with forceps and pulled downwards and upwards to remove the upper florets of the spikelets.   The glumes are separated and anthers left exposed are removed carefully and covered with butter paper cover.

THANK YOU