Hybrid Corn Experimentation in Italy

Sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), an experimental program with hybrid maize began in Europe in 1948, and since then has been continued and expanded. This picture is the third in a series of seven on maize experimentation in Italy:
3 - At the Experiment Station of Bergamo, in addition to growing United States hybrid corn, much work is being done in inbreeding regular types of corn to obtain pure strains, then crossbreeding to obtain hybrid varieties. In order to do this both the tassel and the ear of the corn plant must be protected from outside pollination. Here Dr. Renzo Scossiroli covers the developing ear and the tassel, before it begins to pollinate, with paper bags. When the tassel is mature, pollen is taken in the paper bag and shaken on to the female ear. This inbreeding goes on for several generations, the plants becoming progressively weaker but purer in strain. Two of these types are then cross-bred to produce a healthy hybrid corn type.