THE INSERTION METHOD: A NEW TECHNIQUE POLLINATION IN BEANS (Phaseolus vulgaris L)

Abstract

The present work describes a new pollination technique for the crossing of bean plants (Phaseolus spp. ), namely "The Insertion method". Essentially, this pollination technique consists in placing the keel containing the style-stigma and stamens from the male flower at anthesis over the stigma-style of the female flower after emasculation. The advantage with this method of pollination is
that it keeps the anthers and the pollen bearing style-stigma of the male flower in close contact with the stigma of the female flower, over a period long enough to ensure fertilization as it occurs in natural selfed flowers, where anthers gradually shed their pollen until the stigma reaches its maximum receptivity. It also improves the protection against desiccation of the female and male repreductive organs. This method is easy, quick and moren efficient than others for intra- and interespecific hibridization in beans
and can be practiced at any time of the day under greenhouse or field conditions, provided that female flower buds at the right stage for emasculation and, pollination are available as male flowers at anthesis.