Investigating the potential of novel non-woven fabrics for efficient pollination control in plant breeding

Abstract

Plant breeding is achieved through the controlled self- or cross-pollination of individuals and typically involves isolation of floral parts from selected parental plants. Paper, cellulose or synthetic materials are used to avoid self pollination or cross contamination. Low seed set limits the rate of breeding progress and increases costs. We hypothesized that a novel ‘non-woven’ fabric optimal for both pollination and seed set in multiple plant species could be developed. After determining the baseline pollen characteristics and usage requirements we established iterative three phase development and biological testing. This determined (1) that white fabric gave superior seed return and informed the (2) development of three non-woven materials using different fibre and layering techniques. We tested their performance in selfing and hybridisation experiments recording differences in performance by material type within species. Finally we (3) developed further advanced fabrics with increased air permeability and tested biological performance. An interaction between material type and species was observed and environmental decoupling investigated, showing that the non-woven fabrics had superior water vapour transmission and temperature regulation compared to controls. Overall, non-woven fabrics outperformed existing materials for both pollination and seed set and we found that different materials can optimize species-specific, rather than species-generic performance.

Breeding Strategies to Improve Miscanthus as a Sustainable Source of Biomass for Bioenergy and Biorenewable Products

“…Crossing bags made from non-woven polyester fibers were more breathable and overall gave a higher seed set than glassine bags [20]; however, polyester bags were heavier and needed to be supported, which greatly added to the time taken to set up crosses. Detailed investigations of the environment effects of different materials used for crossing bags showed very complex interactions: higher light transmission produced high within bag temperatures, especially in glassine paper [21]. Thus, we found the immediate crossing environment, over and above genetic compatibility and flowering synchronization, contributed to the success or failure of the crossing attempt.…”

Evaluating the pollen proofing of nonwoven synthetic fabric pollination control tents for sugar beet

“…With the tested fabrics of PCTs we clearly find an acceptable filtering level of cooptimisation of pollen exclusion in the present experiment. However, unlike Clifton- Brown et al (2018) who tested the nonwoven fabrics in glasshouse we have established their pollen proofing ability in field conditions although some of the previous studies suggested that maximum pore size be kept under the pollen size of the crop (Vogel et al, 2014).…”

“…It may be recognised that maximum pore size of the PCT materials was greater than the average pollen size of 20-25 µm in sugar beet but the structural arrangement of the fabric resulted in no contamination from outside pollen. Clifton- Brown et al (2018) also observed no pollen contamination on plants covered with nonwoven fabric pollination control bags from externally placed red hypocotyl sugar beet variety. This is attributed to physical complexity of nonwoven spun-bound fabrics that have torturous path through the fibrous mesh ensuring that the entry of external pollen is restricted.…”

“…According to Hecker (1988) the mean diameter of pollen of diploid (2x) strains of sugar beet was 20.8 µm (19.3 to 22.5 µm) and that of auto-tetraploid (4x) to be 25.9 µm (23.4 to 27.4 µm). Clifton- Brown et al (2018) reported average size of sugar beet pollen to be 20-25 µm. The pollen may be carried up to 1200 m (Darmency et al, 2009).…”

“…More recently, specially developed nonwoven synthetic materials have been used for PCBs for their greater strength against bird damage and inclement weather conditions of heavy rains and wind, greater air permeability, lower moisture absorption, reusability and pollen proofing (PBS International, 2020a, b, c). Such bags have been shown to have advantage over the controls for greater seed harvest by Gitz et al (2015), Schaffert et al (2016Schaffert et al ( , 2018Schaffert et al ( , 2019 and Gaddameedi et al (2017) in sorgum;Clifton-Brown et al (2018) in sugar beet, wheat, Arabidopsis and Miscanthus; Hayes and Virk (2016) in Miscanthus; Vogel et al (2014) and Adhikari et al (2015) in grasses; and Bonneau et al (2017) in oil palm. Anecdotal evidence suggests that certain nonwoven materials when used as pollination control in very hot climates can result in the plant getting too warm affecting plant health and pollen viability.…”