Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 7 • Participatory Plant Breeding, Seed Production, Harvest, and Post-Harvest Management
5 Head for learning field in the afternoon. Select female flower buds that will open the next
day. Once flower buds have been identified, cover them with glassine bag or aluminum
foil to prevent insects from entering. Clip the bag at bottom carefully with stapler. Be sure
not to damage peduncle.
5 In the male parent, select male flowers that will open the next day. Cover the flower bud
with glassine bag of aluminum foil to prevent opening contaminating the pollen with
pollen from other flowers.
5 Write variety’s name on bag (optional).
5 At end of exercise, enter varieties and number of bagged flower buds in crossing table.
5 Take note of all relevant observations and experiences during this activity.
Pollination of Cucurbit Female Flowers (Female Parent):
Note: To be undertaken in early morning or afternoon following preparation for crossbreeding
works.
5 Inspect bags on female flowers and observe if they are still intact and flowers have opened.
5 Review crossing table for selected male parents.
5 Proceed with collecting bagged freshly opened male flowers on plants of selected parent
variety and put flowers in a plastic bag identified with name of male variety.
5 Prior to pollination, carefully remove glassine bag from female flower. Gently rub pollen
from the anthers of the male flower on stigma of female flower. Be sure to touch all lobes.
Once again, pull bag over flower and staple or secure with clip.
5 Add name of male parent on bag. It is custom to write mother plant first followed by father
plant. Write also date of crossing and initials of breeder for identification.
5 At end of exercise, count number of crosses and enter both father variety and number of
crosses in crossing table.
5 Take note of all relevant observations and experiences during this activity.
Inspection of Fertilized Cucurbit Flowers:
5 Three to four days after pollination, remove bags and observe crossed flowers. By this
time, flower petals have dropped. If pollination was successful, ovary (baby fruit) is clearly
visible and growing. if it was not successful, flower has wilted all together.
5 Attach a tag to stem just below successfully hybridized flower so that it is easily visible.
On tag, write name of parent varieties (with female parent first), date when cross was made,
and initials of farmer-breeder.
5 Count the number of successfully pollinated flowers and make a record in crossing table.
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