Question

What is pollination? Explain its types.

Answer 1

Pollination:

1. The process of transfer of pollen grains from anther to stigma belonging to the same flower or different flowers is called pollination.
2. The two types of pollination are self-pollination and cross-pollination.

Self-pollination:

1. Pollen transfer between the anther and stigma belonging to the same flower is called self-pollination.
2. Self-pollination can occur in the bisexual flowers where both androecium and gynoecium are present.
3. Examples: wheat, rice, apricots, etc.

Cross-pollination:

1. Transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of different flowers belonging to the same plant or different plants from the same species is called cross-pollination.
2. This can occur in both plants having a single reproductive whorl in each flower (unisexual flower) and with both the whorls present in a single flower (bisexual flower).
3. Examples: grass, maple, etc.

Pollinating agents:

1. There is an agent or medium through which pollen grains are transported from the anther to the stigma of the flower during cross-pollination called the pollinating agents.
2. Some common pollinating agents are wind, water, insects and animals that carry the pollen grains to a different flower.