Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from the male part (anther) of a flower to the female part (stigma), enabling fertilization and the production of seeds.
Types of Pollination:
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Self-Pollination (Autogamy):
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Pollen from the anther is transferred to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.
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Types of self-pollination:
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Autogamy: Same flower.
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Geitonogamy: Different flower but same plant.
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Examples: Pea, tomato, wheat.
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Cross-Pollination (Allogamy):
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Pollen is transferred from the anther of one flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species.
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Requires agents like wind, insects, water, birds, or animals.
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Examples: Apple, maize, sunflower.
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Agents of Pollination (in Cross-Pollination):
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Insect Pollination (Entomophily): Bees, butterflies, etc.
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Wind Pollination (Anemophily): Grasses, maize.
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Water Pollination (Hydrophily): Some aquatic plants like Vallisneria.
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Bird Pollination (Ornithophily): Hummingbirds, sunbirds.
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Bat Pollination (Chiropterophily): Some tropical plants.
Would you like a diagram to visually explain the types and agents of pollination?
