Pollination is a very important process in the reproduction of plants and is performed by bees. Every organism’s primary goal is to reproduce in order to pass on their genes to the next generation. Plants, like people, are apathetic. When plants reproduce, one of the ways they do so is through the production of seeds, which is also known as sexual reproduction. Seeds contain all of the genetic information necessary to grow a new plant from seed. Seeds can only be produced when pollen is transferred from one flower of a species to another flower of that species. Pollination is the term used to describe this process.
Self-pollination and cross-pollination are two types of pollination.
The pollination of a flower can take place within the flower itself, between flowers of the same plant, or between flowers of different plants. Pollination can be classified into three types, which are as follows:
Self-Pollination
This type of pollination is referred to as primary pollination because it involves only a single flower. When pollen grains fall directly from the anther into the stigma of the flower, this is known as self-pollination. Because this process is straightforward and quick, it results in a reduction in genetic diversity, as the sperm and egg cells of the flower share some genetic information with one another.
Autogamy
In this type of self-pollination, the pollen grains are transferred from the anthers to the stigmas while the flower is still in bloom at the time of pollination. Autogamy requires the coordinated opening, maturation, and exposure of the anther and stigma, all of which must occur at the same time. In order for autogamy to take place, two conditions must be met:
Synchronisation between the anther and the stigma; when the pollen is released, the stigma should be ready to receive it.The relationship between the position of the anther and the distance between the anther and the stigma. Both should be close enough to each other to allow for pollination.
Anthers and stigmas are visible in the flowers of the chasmogamous plant. When pollinating chasmogamous flowers, the exposed reproductive parts provide a chance for cross-pollination. While the anther and stigma of cleistogamous flowers are not visible, they are close enough to allow for transfer. Cleistogamous flowers, on the other hand, have virtually no chance of pollinating each other. Furthermore, they require little assistance from a pollinating agent.
Geitonogamy
Geitonogamy is a type of self-pollination in which the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma occurs between different flowers on the same plant, rather than between different flowers on different plants. Despite the fact that it appears to be cross-pollination and that it occurs with the assistance of pollinators, both gametes have the same plant as their source.
Xenogamy
In xenogamy, the pollen grain transfer occurs across the flowers of two different plants, resulting in cross-pollination between the two plants. In other words, pollen transfer occurs when pollen from one plant’s anther is transferred to the stigma of another plant.
Each type of pollination has its own advantages and disadvantages. Xenogamy results in the creation of new varieties, whereas autogamy aids in the preservation of parental characters. Plants have a variety of adaptations that allow them to complete this task. Furthermore, flowers are dependent on specific pollinating agents, which can be either biotic or abiotic in nature. Pollinators are any of a variety of biotic and abiotic pollinating agents that work together to pollinate plants.
Agents of Pollination
Pollination occurs through the use of both biotic and abiotic agents by plants.
Animals, insects, butterflies, and other biotic agents are examples of biotic agents. Pollination by insects is referred to as entomophily, whereas pollination by birds is referred to as ornithophily (bird pollination). Zoophily is the term used to describe pollination by vertebrates.
Wind and water are examples of abiotic agents. Pollination by the wind is referred to as anemophily, and pollination by water is referred to as hydrophily.
The advantages and disadvantages of self-pollination are discussed below.
Advantage
The process of self-pollination ensures that recessive characters are not produced.
- When compared to cross-pollination, there is very little wastage of the pollen grains
- Because there is no variation in the genes during the process of self-pollination, the purity of the race is maintained
- In self-pollination, there is no involvement of external factors such as wind, water, or other pollinating agents, which makes it a more efficient method
- With self-pollination, even a small amount of pollen grains produced by plants has a high success rate in pollination, ensuring that even a small amount of pollen grains produced by plants is pollinated
Disadvantages
- The primary disadvantage of self-pollination is that there is no cross-pollination of genetic material
- The vigour and vitality of the race are significantly diminished
- The immune system of the offspring is weakened as a result of the pregnancy
- Wind Pollination is a type of pollination that occurs when the wind blows
Conclusion:-
Pollination is the process of extracting pollen grains from a flower’s male part, the anther, and transferring them to the female part, the stigma.The two types of pollination are Self-pollination and cross-pollination. The predominant method of pollination is self-pollination, which occurs when pollen grains are transferred straight from the anther to the stigma of the same flower.
The main disadvantage of self-pollination is that genetic material does not cross-pollinate.
There are no external elements involved in self-pollination, like water, wind or other pollinating agents, making it a more efficient process.