Controlling Dehiscence with Plastic Bags for Hand Crosses in Sorghum¹

Abstract

A technique is described for efficiently making hand crosses in sorghum. It involves covering the panicle of the female with a plastic bag to maintain high humidity and prevent dehiscence. This is followed the next day by removal of anthers by jarring and by pollination. The percentage crossing was usually high. The procedure has potential use with other species in which humidity prevents dehiscence and in which dominant marker genes can be used to detect F 1 plants.