HYBRIDIZATION

Definition
 The mating or crossing of two plants or lines of
dissimilar genotype is called hybridization.
In plant hybridization, one of the plants is taken as
the female plant and the other as the male plant.
Pollen grains from the male parent are made to
pollinate the stigma of the flowers of the female
parent.
The seeds obtained from such a cross are called F 1
hybrid seeds and the progeny raised from it is called
F1 (First Filial) generation.
The chief objective of hybridization is to create
variation.
When two geno typically different plant are
crossed, the genes from both the parents are
brought together in F1.
Segregation and recombination produce many new
genes combination in F2 and subsequent
generations.
The degree of variation produced in F2 depends on
the number of heterozygous genes in F1
 Objectives of hybridization
A. Combination Breeding: Combination breeding is the transfer of
one or more characters from other varieties to a particular variety.
These characters may be oligogenic or polygenic. In this way, genes
for disease resistance, quality traits etc can be transferred.
B. Transgressive Breeding: Transgressive breeding is based on
transgressive variation of characters in segregating generations like
F2. A cross is made between two strains of plants and the F 2 is
screened for transgressive variations. Transgressive segregation is
the segregation of characters beyond the parental limits, in the
segregating generations like F2.
C. Production of Hybrids: Hybrid (F1) plants show higher vigor and
yield when compared to parents, in some cases. This phenomenon is
called hybrid vigor. F1 seeds can be raised in bulk through
hybridization and distributed directly for cultivation, especially in
cross-pollinating crops.
 Types of hybridization
Based on the genetic difference between
parents, hybridization can be classified
into:
Inter-varietal Hybridization
Distant Hybridization
 Inter-varietal hybridization

The cross between the members of the same species (intra-

specific) is called inter-varietal hybridization. In this type of
hybridization, different cross patterns can be used.
Simple Cross:
In this case, two parents are used to produce an F1 hybrid. It is
also called single cross.
Parent A × Parent B : F1 hybrid
Complex Crosses: In complex crosses, more than two parents
are involved. Such crosses can be called convergent crosses
since they bring genes from different sources together.eg,
Three way cross : F1 (A × B) × C
Double cross : F1 (A × B) × F1(C × D)
 Procedure of hybridization
1.Set up your 2. Selection
objective of Parents

4.Emascula 3. Evaluation
tion of parents

5. Bagging 6. Tagging

8. Harvesting 7.
F1 Seeds Pollination
 Set up your objective
• Objective of hybridization should be set before
the hybridization programme.
• It will help in selection of parents.
• If our goal is development of high yielding
resistant variety, then we need to select one of the
parent that is high yielding and another one is
resistance to particular disease.
 Selection of parents
The choice of the parents depends on the objective
of the crosses.
In combination breeding, the genetic diversity of
the parents is not important. In the case of
transgressive breeding, genetically diverse plants
are selected as parents.
If the characteristics of the parents are not
completely known, they are evaluated for the
agronomic features.
Emasculation
Emasculation is the removal of immature anthers
from a bisexual flower.
Depending upon the crop species, the method of
emasculation differ.
Normal practice is hand emasculation.
Bagging
The emasculated inflorescences of female plants
are covered using butter paper bags or cloth bags.
However, in the case of cross-pollinated crops,
male plants may also be bagged if desired, so as to
avoid pollen mixture.
The bags are removed 2-3 days after pollination.
Tagging
Emasculated flowers are tagged properly after
bagging.
Circular or rectangular tags may be used.
Details of the cross, date of emasculation, date of
pollination and the number of flowers emasculated
must be noted on the tag.
Carbon pencil or permanent ink may be used for
tagging.
Pollination
Mature, fertile and viable pollen grains are
collected from the male parent and dusted on the
stigma of the female parent.
Care should be taken to see that the pollen grains
are dusted at the optimum stage of viability.
Harvesting F1 seeds
Crossed seeds are harvested carefully and stored to raise the F 1
generation.
Further handling of the hybrids depends on the objective of the
cross.
In the case of hybrid seed production, the F 1 seeds are directly
released to farmers.
In the case of combination breeding and transgressive
breeding, F2 is raised and the most appropriate solution
program is used.
Harvest of crossed seeds must be done on individual plant basis
Seeds collected from individual plants are to be stored in
appropriate containers with proper label and stored.