Self pollinators:male sterility and F1 hybrids
The level of heterosis can be significant in self pollinators (eg 15% in wheat and barley). The problem for the breeder is how to generate adequate quantities of F1 hybrid seed because the plants are naturally self-fertilising.
There are three ways to knock out self pollen:
- manual emasculation
- chemical sterilization
- genetic male sterility.