Use of male gametocide: An alternative to cumbersome emasculation in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Abstract

New varieties of the coriander are traditionally bred using either mass selection or pure line selection or recurrent
selection. Attempts to use hybridization to combine desirable traits were scarcely successful due to cumbersome
emasculation. Hence, using male gametocides as an alternative to hand emasculation offers immense scope. The
present study is taken up to assess five gametocides viz. Gibberellic acid, 2, 4-D, Maleic Hydrazide, Ethrel and Surf
Excel at different concentrations which were sprayed at the time of flower primordia initiation. Pollen viability and
pollen germination were assessed periodically. The results indicated that none of the gametocides evaluated resulted
in pollen sterility and pollen germination was unaffected. However, spraying of Maleic Hydrazide at 125 ppm resulted in
suppression of anther dehiscence due to severe agglutination of the pollen. Repeat spraying of Maleic Hydrazide at
100 ppm from 25 DAS on wards until the cessation of flowering caused suppression of anther dehiscence during entire
flowering period. Successful crosses were obtained using Maleic Hydrazide as chemical emasculation agent