STUDY ON EFFICIENCY OF ROPE METHOD OF POLLINATION IN WHEAT (TRITICUMAESTIVUML.)

Abstract

Fourteen wheat strains were sown in pairs during rabi, 1990-91. Each pair comprised. of two parental strains of a cross of the same flowering duration. Each strain was sown in a single row of 2 m length with the distance between rows 25 cm. Isolation distance of 2 m was kept between two pairs of parental strains. The standard agronomical practices for irrigated, normal sown conditions were followed. The female lines were emasculated by hand. Each female line consisted of only the emasculated ears as all the unemasculated ears were removed before they emerged from the flag leaves. Rope pollination was done two days after the emasculation. Arope was passed between the male and female lines from one end to the other end of the rows and was moved left and right several times, holding the rope at its both ends. Tf\is activity jerked the male line which resulted in shedding of pollen grains. Pollination was done early in the morning for four consecutive days. The number of cars pollinated for each cross combination varied from four to ten. Each spikelet of the emasculated ear had only two florets.