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Introduction
Pollination is the term used to describe the process by which plants reproduce. A pollinated plant is a plant that has been pollinated by another flowering plant. There are many various types of pollination, including self-pollination and cross-pollination, and each of these types has subcategories, which we will study about in further detail in the next sections. To begin, let’s examine the process by which pollen is dispersed throughout flowering plants. We will learn about the different types of pollination that occur in plants.
In plants, pollen grains are minuscule single-cell structures that contain the male reproductive cell, which is why they are called pollen grains. Pollen are also referred to as sperm cells or male gametes in the context of plants. Pollination happens when pollen grains from the male part of the plant (anther) are transferred to the female part of the plant (stamen), resulting in the formation of seeds
Process of Pollination in Flowers
A pollen tube is generated when the pollen grains successfully land on the stigma of the flower. The style is a long stalk that connects the stigma and the ovary of the flower and is formed when the pollen grains successfully land on the stigma of the flower. As the pollen tube production process is done, the sperm cells from the pollen grain are transported down to the ovary via the pollen tube. Fertilisation occurs when the sperm cell and the egg cell come into contact, and the fertilisation of these cells results in the production of a seed. Later on, the seed becomes separated from the parent plant, the seed grows into another plant, and pollination occurs once more in that plant. As a result of pollination, these immobile animals are able to reproduce.
Self-Pollination
This sort of pollination is limited to a single flower, making it a very fundamental type of pollination to understand. Self-pollination happens when pollen grain from the male part of the flower (anther) lands directly on the stigma, which is the female component of the same flower, resulting in fertilisation. This type of pollination is also known as cross-pollination. Self-pollinating plants are those that reproduce through the process of self-pollination on their own. Wheat, apricot, rice, peanut, etc
It is further subdivided into sub-categories. Let us look at them as different sorts of self-pollination.
Self-Pollination Types
There are two types of self-pollination.
1) Autogamy
2) Geitonogamy
Autogamy
The transfer of sperm cells from the pollen grain to the stigma occurs within the same flower in this sort of self-pollination.
Autogamy is feasible in various situations, such as
The anther and stigma of the same flower should be open at the same time.
When pollen is discharged from the anther, Stigma should be ready to receive it.
The distance between the anther and the stigma should be sufficient.
Geitonogamy
When pollen grains from the male to the female parts of the plant are transferred in various blooms on the same plant, this form of self-pollination happens.
Geitonogamy appears to be more of a cross-pollination and requires a pollination agent, yet it is called self-pollination because it occurs in the same plant.
This method of pollination is more difficult since the transfer of pollen grains occurs from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower, Cross-pollination is referred to as xenogamy in some circles. In cross-pollination, the movement of pollen grains is made possible by the presence of pollinating agents. The pollinating agents can be anything, including animals, insects, the wind, and various abiotic and biotic organisms, among others. In most cases, cross-pollination happens in brightly coloured flowers because the colour and odour of the flower attract pollinators such as bees. Lavender, strawberry, apple, dandelion, and other plants that cross-pollinate are examples of cross-pollination plants.
Cross Pollination
Pollination is accomplished with the use of biotic components like animals, insects, birds, and so on.
abiotic elements such as wind, water, and other natural phenomena pollinate the flowers.
Pollination by biotic factors involves the movement of pollen grains when they adhere to a biotic agent such as an animal, bee, or insect, and when the biotic agent moves, the adhered pollen grains are carried to another plant, where fertilisation occurs.
Pollination by abiotic forces involves the movement of pollen grains caused by the wind, water thrown on the plant, or precipitation spreading across the plant’s surface.
Wind pollination
Wind pollination occurs when pollen from the anther of one flower is carried by the wind to the stigmas of other flowers, resulting in pollination of both flowers. Wind-pollinated plants are those that have had their pollen carried by the wind. It was all about cross-pollination and self-pollination in this case.
Process of Pollination
The term pollination derives from the pollen grains present in flowers, which are responsible for the reproduction of the flower. The stages of pollination are:-
- These pollen grains are unicellular entities that are part of a plant’s male reproductive cell, which is responsible for reproduction. These pollen grains are also referred to as plant sperm cells since they contain the reproductive cells of the plant. During this procedure, pollen from one plant is transferred to the female component of another plant, which is commonly referred to as the stigma of the other plant.
- Flowers are the sections of the plant that contain these reproductive organs, which are found in the centre of the flower.
- When the pollen grains successfully settle on the stigma, a pollen tube is produced, which is also known as the style. The style is a long stalk that is responsible for causing the stigma to combine with the ovary (female component) of the flower, which is known as pollination.
Following the completion of this procedure, the sperm cells are transported to the ovary via the style; when the sperm cells and the egg cells join, fertilisation occurs, resulting in the creation of a seed.
Conclusion
In order to survive in the environment, it is necessary. The human population, as well as all of the earth’s terrestrial ecosystems, would perish if pollinators were no longer there. On average, about 80 percent of the 1,400 crop plants farmed throughout the world, which include those that provide all of our food and plant-based industrial products, require animal pollination in order to produce fruit and seeds.
