Watering plays an important role in plant reproduction. Pollination is a method of sexual reproduction in all plants by transferring pollen grains from the testicles to the female follicle and enabling the process of reproduction.
Christian Konrad Sprengel first discovered the process of pollination in the 18th century. This is commonly known as the interaction between the pollinator and the flower. Agriculture and horticulture are very important.
What is Self-Pollination?
In this process, pollen grains develop from the same or genetically identical flower stigma. Self is found in orchids, sunflowers, peas, walnuts, oats, peaches, potatoes and wheat.
What is Cross-Pollination?
Cross-pollination is defined as the deposition of pollen grains from a flower to the stigma of another flower. This process is usually done by insects and wind.
This process of insects is present in many plants such as strawberries, grapes, raspberries, tulips, apples, plums, pears, daffodils, etc. Aerial pollination is found in various grasses, maples, dandelions and catkins.
Difference Between Self-Pollination and Cross-Pollination
| Self-Pollination | Cross-Pollination |
| This process can take place in the same flower or a different flower of the same plant. | This process can take place between two flowers present on different plants. |
| It occurs in the flowers which are genetically identical. | It occurs between flowers which are genetically different. |
| Transfer pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower. | transfer pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a different flower. |
| Few species that exhibit self-pollination – Paphiopedilum parishii, Arabidopsis thaliana | w species that exhibit cross-pollination – apples, daffodils, pumpkins and grasses |
| Causes homogenous conditions in progenies. | Causes heterozygous condition in progenies. |
| Self-pollination increases genetic uniformity and decreases genetic variation. | Cross-pollination decreases genetic uniformity and increases genetic variation. |
| Produces limited amounts of pollen grains. | Produces large amounts of pollen grains. |
| In self-pollination, both the stigma and anther simultaneously mature | In cross-pollination, both the stigma and anther mature at different times. |
| Pollen grains are transferred directly to a flower’s stigma. | Pollen grains are carried via wind, insects, animals, water, etc. |
Types of Pollination
- Most flowering plants reproduce sexually, that is, by producing seeds.
- We know that sexual reproduction is incomplete without reproduction.
- Male and female sperm must meet to reproduce and develop further.
- Have you ever wondered how plants make sure they last on earth despite being stagnant?
- We answer the same by briefly discussing the process called irrigation.
Types of Self-pollination and Cross-pollination
Pollination can occur within a flower or between flowers of the same plant or between flowers of different plants. Accordingly, there are three types of irrigation viz.
This is a type of self-pollination where the pollen grains are transferred to the stigma on the same flower. Becoming his wife requires a corresponding openness, maturity and exposure to flies and stigma. There are two conditions to becoming your own wife.
- Anther-stigma synchrony; When the pollen comes out, the butterfly should be ready to receive it.
- The space or gap between the worm and the butterfly. Both should be close enough for pollination.
In chasmogamous flowers, the anther and stigma are visible. The exposed reproductive organs give the possibility of cross-pollination in chasmogamous flowers.
In cleistogamous flowers, on the other hand, the anther and anther are not visible but are too closely one to be replaced.
Thus, there is virtually no possibility of cross-pollination in cleistogamous flowers. In addition, they require little moisturizer.
