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 Hydrazideas chemical emasculation agent. Key words: Coriander, coriandrum, emasculation, male gametocide, crossing, hybridization.