Fecha de publicación: 25/01/2000 Fuente: WIPO "pollination" A method is provided for efficiently producing superior hybrid seed and plants. The method uses a genetic mechanism for ensuring high percentages of natural cross-pollination and combines this mechanism with a genetically conferred morphological trait that allows recognition of desirable genotypes at an early development stage. The genetic mechanism for ensuring high percentages of cross-pollination is male-sterile, a recessive genetic mutant. Thus, the method includes protocols for developing genetic male-sterile (ms) lines. The genetically conferred morphological trait that allows recognition of desirable genotypes at an early development stage is a seedling marker. Thus, the method includes protocols for developing genetic male-sterile (ms) lines with a seedling marker. In watermelon for example, the seedling marker can be a conditionally unfit mutant such as juvenile-albino (ja).