A method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen

Abstract

This invention provides a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen, belonging to the field of hybridization breeding technology. The method utilizes indicator pollen that is reproductively isolated from the target plant, preventing fertilization. The indicator pollen mixes with the target plant's pollen and adheres to the stigma, allowing for visual inspection to determine if pollen adheres evenly to the stigma. This invention also reduces the amount of target pollen used, indirectly reducing the amount of male cotton flowers harvested, thus contributing to increased male cotton yield. The method also improves work efficiency, quickly identifying whether pollination is sufficient and even; if uneven pollination occurs, workers can promptly supplement the pollination. Furthermore, this method minimizes the chance of missing male stigmas, indirectly increasing pollination rate and reducing shedding rate; it also improves boll formation rate, reduces shedding rate, and increases seed yield.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hybridization breeding technology, specifically relating to a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen. Background Technology

[0002] Cotton belongs to the genus *Gossypium* of the family Malvaceae and is a cross-pollinated crop. Cotton hybridization technology plays a crucial role in cotton breeding. Cotton hybridization involves two stages: flower removal and pollination. Traditional hybridization methods use straw tubes or plastic straws placed over the stigma of the pistil for isolation during these processes. This is cumbersome, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and inefficient, and the plastic isolation tubes used after flower removal can easily cause secondary contamination. Conventional methods of emasculation and pollination are inefficient, labor-intensive, have a high rate of deformed seeds, low hybrid yields, and high shedding rates. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen, which improves work efficiency and pollination rate, increases hybrid seed production, and reduces labor costs.

[0004] This invention provides a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen, comprising mixing indicator pollen and target pollen evenly and then artificially pollinating the stigma of the target plant.

[0005] The sources of the indicator pollen include plants that are reproductively isolated from the target plant and have a different color from the target pollen.

[0006] Preferably, when the target plant is cotton, the indicative pollen includes okra pollen.

[0007] Preferably, the mixing volume ratio of the indicator pollen to the target pollen is 1:3.

[0008] Preferably, both the indicator pollen and the target pollen are collected on the morning of the same day, and are collected and mixed after the male pollen has been released;

[0009] When pollen cannot be fully dispersed, methods such as using spotlights to accelerate pollen maturation and dispersal can be employed.

[0010] Preferably, the stigma of the target plant is emasculated the afternoon before pollen collection.

[0011] Preferably, the indicator pollen and the target pollen are mixed evenly and placed in a pollen-containing device. The emasculated stigma of the cotton is then inserted into the device through a hole to complete artificial pollination.

[0012] Preferably, the diameter of the hole in the device is 4mm to 4.5mm.

[0013] Preferably, after the artificial pollination is completed, the method further includes pulling the stigma out of the hole in the device.

[0014] This invention also provides the application of the above method in improving the efficiency of artificial pollination.

[0015] The present invention also provides the application of the above method in reducing the deformity rate and shedding rate of hybrid seeds and increasing the yield of hybrid seeds.

[0016] Beneficial Effects: This invention provides a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen. The selected indicator pollen is reproductively isolated from the target plant and will not undergo fertilization. After mixing with the target plant's pollen, the indicator pollen adheres to the stigma of the target plant, and its uniformity can be visually determined. This invention also reduces the amount of target pollen used, indirectly reducing the amount of male cotton flowers harvested, thus contributing to increased male cotton yield. The method also improves work efficiency, quickly identifying whether pollination is sufficient and uniform; if pollination is uneven, workers can promptly supplement pollination. This method is less likely to miss male stigmas, and pollination is visually apparent, indirectly increasing the pollination rate and reducing the shedding rate; it also increases boll formation rate, reduces shedding rate, and increases seed yield. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the cotton flower vase structure;

[0018] Figure 2 Image of the stigma of an unpollinated cotton plant after emasculation;

[0019] Figure 3 A diagram of the stigma after cotton pollination;

[0020] Figure 4 A diagram of the stigma of cotton after pollination with okra-cotton mixed pollen;

[0021] Figure 5 The figures show cotton bolls that have developed normally after being pollinated using the method described in this invention, and deformed bolls from control group 1. In the figures, bolls 1, 2, and 3 are cotton bolls that have developed normally, while bolls 4, 5, and 6 are deformed bolls, which have 1 to 2 abnormal petals.

[0022] Figure 6 The images show normal boll opening (left) and abnormal boll opening (right) of control group 1 after pollination using the method described in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] This invention provides a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen, comprising mixing indicator pollen and target pollen evenly and then artificially pollinating the stigma of the target plant.

[0024] The sources of the indicator pollen include plants that are reproductively isolated from the target plant and have a different color from the target pollen.

[0025] In this invention, when the target plant is cotton ( Figure 1 In this invention, the indicator pollen preferably includes okra pollen, which has a certain degree of stickiness, allowing it to adhere well to cotton pollen and attach together with it to the cotton stigma. Okra pollen and cotton are reproductively isolated, preventing fertilization and the formation of false hybrid bolls. The okra pollen and cotton pollen have a significant color difference, allowing for the determination of fertilization success through color changes on the stigma. This makes it less likely to miss male stigmas, and pollination is visually apparent, indirectly improving the pollination rate and reducing the shedding rate.

[0026] The preferred volume ratio of the indicator pollen to the target pollen in this invention is 1:3. Preferably, both the indicator pollen and the target pollen are mixed thoroughly at a volume ratio of 3:1 between 9 and 10 a.m. daily, after the male pollen has dispersed. If it is a cloudy day or the temperature is low, and the pollen cannot disperse fully, the pollen is irradiated with an illumination lamp for 15-20 minutes to accelerate pollen maturation.

[0027] In this invention, the mixed pollen is preferably placed in a pollen-containing device, and the emasculated stigmas of cotton are inserted into the device through a hole to complete artificial pollination. The diameter of the hole in the device is preferably 4mm to 4.5mm, and after artificial pollination, it is preferable to further remove the stigmas from the hole. This invention does not have a specific limitation on the structure of the device. For example, in one embodiment, a mineral water bottle is used, with a circular hole of approximately 4mm in diameter in the center of the cap. The emasculated stigmas from the previous afternoon are inserted into the pollination bottle through the hole, and the bottle is shaken. The pollen is dispersed throughout the pollination bottle, thus fully pollinating the stigmas.

[0028] This invention also provides the application of the above method in improving the efficiency of artificial pollination.

[0029] In this invention, when cotton hybrids are prepared using artificial pollination, the hybrid bolls may detach. There are two main reasons for this: firstly, even with normal pollination, bolls may detach due to natural factors such as weather, temperature, and rain; secondly, human negligence may cause emasculated stigmas to be missed and inevitably detach later. Due to the mixed pollen and color differences, pollination can be quickly determined by direct visual observation, making it less likely to miss emasculated stigmas, thus improving work efficiency. Furthermore, even if pollination is uneven, it can be corrected promptly through observation. This invention reduces the amount of pollen used for artificial pollination, requiring only sufficient and even distribution, thus indirectly reducing the amount of male parent flowers harvested and contributing to increased male parent cotton yield.

[0030] The present invention also provides the application of the above method in reducing the deformity rate and shedding rate of hybrid seeds and increasing the yield of hybrid seeds.

[0031] The method described in this invention can also improve boll formation rate, reduce shedding rate, and reduce deformity rate, thereby increasing seed yield.

[0032] To further illustrate the present invention, the following detailed description of a method for artificial pollination using indicator pollen provided by the present invention is provided in conjunction with embodiments, but these descriptions should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] Example 1

[0034] 1. Every morning between 9 and 10 a.m., after the male pollen has dispersed, thoroughly mix the pollen from the cotton male parent and the okra pollen at a ratio of 3:1, and put them into a hybridization pollination bottle. If it is a cloudy day or the temperature is low, and the pollen cannot disperse, irradiate the pollen with an illumination lamp for 15 to 20 minutes to accelerate pollen maturation.

[0035] 2. The pollination bottle cap has a round hole with a diameter of about 4mm in the center. The stigma that was emasculated the previous afternoon is inserted into the hole. Figure 2 Insert the pollination bottle through the round hole, shake the bottle, and the pollen will spread throughout the entire pollination bottle, thus fully pollinating the stigma.

[0036] 3. After pollination, slowly pull the stigma out of the round hole in the pollination bottle. Pollination is complete; mark the area. The cotton stigma after pollination with okra-cotton mixed pollen looks like... Figure 4 As shown, after pollination, a layer of yellow pollen can be clearly seen adhering to the surface of the cotton stigma. The amount and uniformity of the adhering pollen can be visually observed.

[0037] Set up control group 1:

[0038] Hybridization was performed between different cotton varieties, using the same hybridization method as in Example 1. The results are as follows: Figure 3 As shown, cotton pollen is light white, which is close to the color of the stigma. The conventional method of inter-variety artificial pollination, which involves directly applying pollen from one variety to the stigma of another variety after emasculation, makes it difficult to accurately judge with the naked eye whether the pollen has been applied and whether the application is even, which can easily lead to omissions and uneven application.

[0039] Set up control group 2:

[0040] Artificial pollination of cotton pollen was carried out using okra pollen, and the artificial pollination method was the same as in Example 1.

[0041] The pollination results of Example 1 and Control Groups 1 and 2 were statistically analyzed, as shown in Tables 1 and 2. Figures 5-6 As shown, okra and cotton are reproductively isolated. The method in Example 1, after artificial pollination, significantly increased the number of normal bolls, increased the boll formation rate, significantly reduced the shedding rate, and increased the number of seeds. Furthermore, after artificial pollination, the method in Example 1 increased the number of normal bolls, and their volume was significantly larger than that of deformed bolls. The normal bolls had normal development of each cotton petal, while the deformed bolls had 1 to 2 petals with abnormal development.

[0042] Using mixed pollen and cotton stigma for pollination yielded better results than using cotton pollen alone. The seed yield in Sanya increased by (42061-35982) / 35982*100% = 16.9%, while in Handan it increased by (33301-26404) / 26404*100% = 26.1%. The method described in this invention, when applied on a large scale in seed production, can increase the seed yield by 26.1%, obtaining more seeds with the same labor expenditure, thereby indirectly reducing seed costs. Furthermore, in both the control and experimental groups, the boll formation rate of hybrid pollination in Handan was lower than in Sanya. This is because pollination in Handan often coincides with rainy weather in July, which washes away the pollen, preventing the stigma from completing pollination and causing it to fall off.

[0043] Table 1. Results of differences in pollination with different pollen types and cotton stigmas (Sanya trial results)

[0044]

[0045]

[0046] Table 2. Results of differences in pollination with different pollen types and cotton stigmas (Results from the Handan Experiment)

[0047]

[0048] Although the above embodiments have provided a detailed description of the present invention, they are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. People can obtain other embodiments based on these embodiments without creative effort, and these embodiments all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for artificial pollination of cotton using pollen of Abelmoschus esculentus, characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: mixing the pollen of okra and cotton evenly, and then artificially pollinating the target plant; The volume ratio of the pollen of okra and cotton is 1:3; The artificial pollination is achieved by the following steps: placing the mixture of the pollen of okra and cotton in a device for containing pollen, and then inserting the emasculated stigma of cotton into the device through the hole of the device, so as to complete the artificial pollination; wherein the stigma of cotton is emasculated in the afternoon of the day before the pollen is collected; The okra and cotton are reproductively isolated and have different pollen colors; The pollen of okra and cotton are both collected at 9-10 am on the same day after the male pollen is scattered and then mixed; When the pollen cannot be fully scattered, the method comprises the following step: using an irradiation lamp to irradiate the pollen to accelerate the maturation and scattering of the pollen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The diameter of the hole of the device is 4-4.5 mm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, After the artificial pollination is completed, the method further comprises the following step: pulling out the stigma from the hole of the device.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3 is applied to improving the efficiency of artificial pollination.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-3 is applied to reducing the abnormal rate and shedding rate of hybrid seeds and improving the yield of hybrid seeds.

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