Question

Why is self pollination bad?

Answer 1

Self-pollination:

1. It is the form of pollination in which pollen from the same plant arrives at the stigma of a flower (in flowering plants) or at the ovule (in gymnosperms).
2. There are two types of self-pollination: autogamy and geitonogamy.
3. In autogamy, pollen gets transferred from one flower to the stigma of the same flower;
4. In geitonogamy, pollen gets transferred from anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower on the same flowering plant, or from microsporangium to ovule within a single gymnosperm.

Disadvantages:

1. Self-pollination leads to lack in variation that means no adaptation towards changing environment or potential pathogen attack.
2. It also leads to inbreeding depression lead to weakening the species.
3. Due to these disadvantages many flowers that can self-pollinate tends to avoid it.