What is bagging technique? How is it useful in a plant breeding programme?

i)In the flowers with both anther and stigma, the anther is removed before maturation carefully using forceps.

ii)The flower is then covered with a bag made up of butter paper.

iii)The covering of emasculated flowers with a bag of suitable size, generally made up of butter paper, to prevent contamination of its stigma with unwanted pollens is called bagging technique.

iv) When the stigma matures, the pollens from desired flower are dusted on the stigma with the help of pre-sterilized brush and the flower is re-bagged until the fruit is developed.

v) This technique is called artificial hybridization. Plant breeders often use this method to prevent the contamination of stigma of flowers from unwanted pollens. This technique is also helpful is developing the plant of desired variety.