Question

Mention the three ways in which pollination can occur

Answer 1

Pollination:

1. Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen grains from anther to stigma.
2. It can take place through autogamy, xenogamy, and geitonogamy

Autogamy

1. Pollen grains are transferred from one bloom to the next. Pollen grains will be transmitted from the anther to the stigmas of the same plant's blooms.
2. Because this is self-pollination, the progeny will have fewer new characteristics.
3. For pollen grains to transfer smoothly, the distance between the anther and the stigma should be reduced.
4. During pollination, both the stigma and the anther should be open and exposed in order for the stigma to accept pollen grains at the same time as the anther.
5. For example, Sunflowers and peas

Xenogamy

1. It is a type of cross-pollination in which the pollen grain transfer occurs between the flowers of two plants. To put it another way, pollen is transferred from the anther of one plant to the stigma of another.
2. Xenogamy results in new traits in the offspring which is different from autogamy in which no new traits are formed.

Geitonogamy

1. Pollen grains are transmitted from the anther to the stigma between blooms on the same plant in a process known as geitonogamy. Despite the fact that it seems to be cross-pollination and that pollinators are involved, both gametes come from the same plant.
2. Eg. Corn, Maize