I read this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detasseling and was wondering if this would would work on a smaller scale. Anyone here has done this or have seen this done?
Detasseling corn
It is a way to create hybrid varieties. Unless you want to go in the hybrid seed business, I can't think of any other good reason to do it.
Ahhhh. I was unclear on the concept. My mom, who has been watering the garden for me while i'm away, was told by someone at her church about the practice. So she asked me if she could detassel my corn. I think she was under the impression that doing so would make the corn kernels develop better. Hard to say no to momma....
The tassels are are the male part of the corn flower. Remove them and no pollination occurs. In breeding hybrids, the tassels of the plant used for hybrid seed are removed so that only pollen from from a second donor plant can be recieved. Two breedin varieties are planted in alternate blocks. The block designated for hybrid seed production is detasseled so that it is pollinated by the second variety. Only this block becomes the specified hybrid seed.
Thank you for a thorough explanation, Farmerdill. I explained it to my mom and she just couldn't stop laughing about her misunderstanding.
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