Pollination in Plants
The primary goal of every living organism on earth is reproduction. In
flowering plants, the flower is the main reproductive organ. They have
seeds within them that contain their genetic information. Reproduction
starts when the genetic information is transferred from the male part of
a flower to its female part. This process produces seeds that later give
rise to a new plant.
The act of transferring pollen from the anther, the male part of a flower,
to the stigma, the female part, is called pollination. For pollination to
occur, the plants must be of the same species.
Here are the steps through which pollination occurs.
Step 1: The first step is to transfer pollen from the anther to the stigma
of the same or different flower.
Step 2: After the pollen’s successful transfer, a pollen tube starts
forming along the length of the style. The style is a long stalk that
connects the stigma to the ovary of the flower.
Step 3: After the pollen tube is complete, the sperm cells travel through
it to reach the ovary. The union of the sperm and egg cells in the ovary
results in the formation of a seed.
Step 4: Finally, the seed gets detached from the parent plant, and
their dispersal causes a new plant to grow. The new plant
participates in pollination to repeat the cycle.
Types of Pollination
There are two types of pollination
1) Self-Pollination
Transferring pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower is
called self-pollination. It is the primary type of pollination in plants.
Self-pollination is common in plants that contain both male and female
sexual parts in the same flower. Beans, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers,
and eggplants are examples of self-pollinating plants.
Self-pollinating plants depend less on external factors for their
pollination. They depend on wind and other smaller insects for their
pollination.
Self-pollination can be of two types:
a) Autogamy: Transferring pollen from the anther to the stigma of the
same flower.
b) Geitonogamy: Transferring pollen from the anther of one flower to
the stigma of another flower, but on the same plant.
Advantages Self-Pollination
Maintains the purity of the race as there is no mix up of genes
Simple and fast process
High rate of successful pollination
Less dependent on external factors such as wind, water, and other
pollinating agents to cause pollination
Less wastage of pollen grains
Ensures that the fewer dominant characters are eliminated, and
only the dominant characters are expressed
Disadvantages Self-Pollination
Involves no mixing up of genes, and thus new characters or traits
are not incorporated
Causes a decrease in the vigor and vitality of the race
Offspring are borne with less immunity and thus are more prone
to diseases
2) Cross-Pollination
Transferring pollen grain from the anther of one flower to the stigma of
another flower is called cross-pollination. This type of pollination is
complex, involving flowers that are genetically different from each
other. Grasses, daffodils, pumpkins, and apples are examples of cross-
pollinating plants.
Cross-pollination always depends on another agent for pollination to
occur. The agent can be biotic such as bees, birds, insects, and animals
or abiotic such as wind and water
Cross-pollination, when done artificially by humans, is called artificial
pollination. This process is utilized to overcome external difficulties in
pollination, increase the yield of crops, and introduce some new traits
or characters in the plant.
Advantages of Cross-Pollination
Introduces new traits that are of good vigor and vitality
Improves immunity against diseases and also to the changing
environment
Eliminates the recessive and nonessential characters
Reproduces in unisexual plants
Disadvantages of Cross-Pollination
Massive wastage of pollen grains
Chances of elimination of good qualities and incorporation of
nonessential characteristics in the offspring
Agents of Pollination: Pollinators
Pollinating agents are known as pollinators. They are biotic (living) and
abiotic (nonliving). Here are some examples of pollinators.
1) Biotic
Pollination by Animals (Zoophily)
Various factors such as the flower’s scent, the nectar’s position, and the
pollen’s nature are essential for zoophily.
They are of two types:
Pollination by Insects (Entomophily): Colorful, fragrant flowers such
as sunflower and orchids attract pollinators such as bees, wasps, ants,
beetles, moths, butterflies, and flies. Insects also pollinate aquatic
plants such as water hyacinth and lily.
Pollination by Birds (Ornithophily): Flowers having copious nectar
and red petals such as orchids and wildflowers are pollinated by
hummingbirds and sunbirds.
2) Abiotic
Pollination by Wind (Anemophily)
This type of pollination is observed in forests where the air carries
pollen from one tree to another. It can also occur within the same tree.
Anemophily is more effective for flowers with free-swinging, light
anthers to be carried easily by the wind. Coconut, palm, and maize are
some examples of wind-pollinated plants.
Pollination by Water (Hydrophily)
This type of pollination is widespread in plants such as algae,
pteridophytes, and bryophytes. They have a mucilaginous covering that
protects the pollen grains.
Why is Pollination Important
Biological Importance
Helps in the reproduction of flowering plants through the
formation of seeds and then fruits
Produces food for humans and animals. More than half of the
world’s fat and oils such as oil palm, canola, and sunflowers come
from pollination. Almost all fruit and grain crop production in the
U.S. depends on pollination.
Maintains genetic diversity within a plant population.
Helps water, oxygen, and carbon cycle to continue in nature.
Environmental Importance
Flowering plants produced through pollination helps in:
Cleaning up the environment by producing oxygen and reducing
the carbon dioxide level of the atmosphere.
Purifying the rainwater before reaching the water table.
Preventing soil erosion.
Economic Importance
Helps in the production of food, medicines, fibers, oils, resins,
latex, gums, tannins, soaps, waxes, and plant-based dyes.