Pollinating Agents

Pollen grains are transported from the pollen-producing plant parts to the ovule-bearing organs or the ovules (seed precursors) themselves. Pollination is a procedure that ensures a plant’s life cycle is successful. Plant fertilisation would be impossible without pollination, hence it is critical for the production of fruit and seed crops. Pollen is delivered to the female reproductive organs of a plant during the pollination process, allowing fertilisation to take place. Pollen, which is generally spread by the wind, is simply collected by a drop of fluid secreted by each freely exposed ovule in gymnosperms (plants with naked seeds), such as conifers and cycads. Pollen is placed on the pistil’s receptive end (the stigma) in angiosperms (flowering plants), where the ovules are contained in the pistil, where it germinates. Pollination is also vital in plant breeding operations aiming at enhancing crop yield through the development of genetically better varieties.

Pollinating Agents

• Pollinators are the pollinating agents.

• Pollinators can be either abiotic (nonliving) or biotic (living).

• Wind and water are abiotic pollinators. Water is often exclusively used by a few aquatic plants, such as seagrasses.

• Various animal species are referred to be biotic pollinators (Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, and Insects). The most prevalent of these are insects. Biological pollinators include beetles, bees, moths, and birds.

Agents of Pollination 

There are different types of pollinating agents which are as follows-:

1. Zoophily

The zoophilous type of cross-pollination occurs when pollination is carried out with the assistance of animals. Flowers with hairy pollen grains stick to the body of animals, so zoophilous pollination plants have flowers with hairy pollen grains. When these creatures come into contact with another plant’s blossoms, they transfer pollen to the stigma.

2. Entomophily

Cross-pollination is accomplished through the use of a variety of agents. This type of cross-pollination is known as entomophilous cross-pollination because it is pollinated by insects.

Insects pollinate the flowers when they are huge, vividly coloured, emanate a perfume, and generate nectar.

3. Anemophily

Wind pollination, also known as anemophily, is pollination carried out with the assistance of the wind. Anemophilous pollination is the term for this type of pollination. Wind pollinating flowers are those that carry out this form of pollination. They are little and light-coloured, with no scent or nectar. The stamens of these flowers are lengthy and protrude from the flower to aid pollination by the wind. The pollens are very light and dry, and the anthers are loosely linked to the filament. The stigmas of the flower are feathery and protrude from the blossom. Take maize, for example.

4. Hydrophily

Pollination is known as hydrophilous cross-pollination since it is done with the help of water. It’s most common in aquatic plants, where pollen is generated in vast quantities and with a certain weight, causing them to float below the water’s surface.

The male flower in Vallisneria floats on the water’s surface until it comes into contact with the female blooms. Pollinating agents are substances that help plants reproduce. 

EXAMPLES OF POLLINATING AGENTS

• Many grass plants are pollinated by the wind.

• Pollination is also aided by bats. They’re only found in a few bananas (Musa spp.).

• Evening primrose and tobacco plants are both pollinated by moths.

Significance of pollination

Pollination is required for nearly all seed plants on the planet. This is true for both cone-bearing plants like pine trees and the more colourful and well-known floral species. Pollen, which appears to be inconsequential yellow dust, contains the male sex cells of a plant and is an important link in the reproductive cycle.

Wildflowers can benefit from appropriate pollination in the following ways:

1. Produce enough seeds for dissemination and multiplication. 

2. Ensure that a population’s genetic diversity is preserved.

3. Produce enough fruits to tempt seed dispersers.

Conclusion 

We conclude that It is a necessary ecological function for survival. The human race and all of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would perish if pollinators were not there. Nearly 80 percent of the 1,400 crop plants farmed around the world, i.e. those that provide all of our food and plant-based industrial products, require animal pollination.