crosspollinate???

Question

does anyone know how to crosspollinate rice?? i'm having troubles finding the information...i would be very greatful!!

Answer 1

Rice is basically a self-pollinating crop (and so is different from most grasses, which are wind-pollinated). There is some natural cross-pollination but at very low rates. There is not much information because most growers want to *prevent* cross-pollination (and preserve the qualities of their preferred variety). You can pollinate by hand but it is a bit tricky and you can't do it on a broad scale.

"Hybrid rice is produced through natural and artificial cross-pollination where two varieties, male and female, are grown side by side. The superior qualities of the two parent varieties are combined, hence, the higher yield." (link) but that may not help you much!

Answer 2

Good question ! I hope this helps...I have included a link as well.

Pollination can be cross-pollination with a pollinator and an external pollenizer, self-pollenization with a pollinator, or self-pollination without any pollinator:

Cross-pollination (syngamy): pollen is delivered to a flower of a different plant. Plants adapted to outcross or cross-pollinise have taller stamens than carpels to better spread pollen to other flowers. A bee collects nectar, while pollen collects on its body.

Self-pollenization (autogamy): pollen moves to the female part of the same flower, or to another flower on the same individual plant. This is sometimes referred to as self-pollination, but this is not synonymous with autogamy. Clarity requires that the term "self-pollination" be restricted to those plants that accomplish pollination without an external pollinator (example: the stamens actually grow into contact with the pistil to transfer the pollen). Most peach varieties are autogamous, but not truly self-pollinated, as it is generally an insect pollinator that moves the pollen from anther to stigma. Plants adapted to self-fertilize have similar stamen and carpel length.

Cleistogamy: pollination that occurs before the flower opens is always self-pollination. Some cleistogamous flowers never open, in contrast to chasmogamous flowers that open and are then pollinated. Cleistogamous flowers must of necessity be self-compatible or self-fertile plants. Other plants are self-incompatible. These are end points on a continuum, not absolute points.

Hybridization is effective pollination between flowers of different species of the same genus, or even between flowers of different genera (as in the case of several orchids).