How does selective breeding occur with plants?
The breeder would select flowers on the two varieties of plants he or she wants to cross. The blossom is opened and the stamens are removed before the flower opens. When the blossom is mature, the pollen from the other variety of the plant is collected and used to pollinate the stigma of the first flower. The blossom is then protected from accidental pollination by insects or wind. Small cloth or paper bags are tied over the pollinated flower with identification information recorded in permanent marker. When the seeds mature, the seeds are collected and stored until the next growing season. When the seeds germinate, mature and produce flowers or fruits, the offspring are evaluated. If the traits are desirable, the seeds are collected and used to maintain the strain. If the traits are highly desirable, the breeder may reproduce the variety by asexual reproduction such as budding, grafting, or apical meristem tissue culture. If the cross doesn’t produce what is wanted, additional crosses
