Question

Write any one advantage and one disadvantage of self pollination and cross pollination.

Answer 1

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma is called pollination.

Two types of pollination:

1. Self-pollination: It is the process of transferring pollen grain from the anther and stigma of the same flower.
2. Cross-pollination: The transfer process of a pollen grain from another and the stigma of a different flower.

Advantages of self-pollination:

1. The purity of the race is maintained.
2. There is no wastage of pollen grains.
3. Self-pollination ensures that recessive characters are eliminated.
4. The plants are independent of external factors or pollinating agents for pollination.

Disadvantages of self-pollination:

1. The seeds are less in number.
2. It cannot produce new varieties of plants.
3. The seeds produced are weak due to the minute size of the endosperm.
4. New characters are not introduced; therefore, the resultant offspring’s immunity to diseases reduces.

Advantages of cross-pollination:

1. The newly produced plants are healthier.
2. Cross-pollination helps in the formation of new varieties.
3. The seeds are produced in abundance and are more viable.
4. The seeds germinate properly and grow into healthier plants.
5. It results in new types because cross-pollination can be carried out between two different types of the same species or even between two different species.

Disadvantages of cross-pollination:

1. There is more wastage of pollen grains.
2. Pollination may fail due to the distance barrier.
3. Cross-pollination may introduce some unwanted characters.
4. It is uneconomical for plants to produce large, aromatic, and nectar flowers to attract insects.