The knowledge of pollen- pistil interaction helps the plant breeder in

Options

A. To get desired hybrids only between compatiable plants
B. To get desired hybrids even in incompatible pollinations
C. Crossing different genera to get desired hybrids
D. Both (2) and (3)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Pollen-Pistil Interaction**:
- Pollen-pistil interaction refers to the biochemical processes that occur between pollen grains and the pistil (the female reproductive part of the flower) during fertilization.
- This interaction is crucial for successful fertilization and the development of seeds.

2. **Importance for Plant Breeders**:
- Plant breeders utilize the knowledge of pollen-pistil interactions to achieve specific breeding goals. Understanding which pollen is compatible with which pistil can help in creating desired hybrids.

3. **Creating Desired Hybrids**:
- **Compatible Plants**: In cases where pollen and pistil are compatible, the plant breeder can easily create hybrids by cross-pollinating these plants.
- **Incompatible Plants**: If the plants are incompatible, the breeder can still aim to create hybrids by understanding the interaction and employing techniques to facilitate fertilization.

4. **Crossing Different Genera**:
- The knowledge of pollen-pistil interaction allows breeders to attempt crossing plants from different genera to achieve desired traits, such as color or disease resistance.

5. **Techniques to Aid Breeding**:
- Techniques such as emasculation (removing the anthers from a flower to prevent self-pollination) and bagging (covering flowers to prevent unwanted pollination) are essential for controlling the breeding process.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The knowledge of pollen-pistil interaction helps plant breeders not only to create hybrids from compatible plants but also to explore hybridization between incompatible plants and different genera. Therefore, the correct answer is option 4: both 2 and 3.