Self-pollination
Encyclopedia
Self-pollination is a form of pollination
that can occur when a flower
has both stamen
and a carpel (pistil) in which the cultivar
or species
is self fertile and the stamens and the sticky stigma of the carpel contact each other in order to accomplish pollination. The term is inaccurately used in many cases where an outside pollinator
is actually required; such plants are merely self fertile, or self pollenizing
.
Few plants actually self pollinate. The mechanism is seen most often in some legumes such as peanut
s. In another legume, Soybean
s, the flowers open and remain receptive to insect cross pollination during the day; if this is not accomplished, the flowers self pollinate as they are closing. Other plants that can self pollinate are many kinds of orchids, peas, sunflowers, tridax,etc.
Self pollination limits the variety of progeny and may depress plant vigor
. However, self pollenizing can be advantageous, allowing plants to spread beyond the range of suitable pollinators or produce offspring in areas where pollinator populations have been greatly reduced
or are naturally variable.
Pollination can also be accomplished by cross-pollination.
Pollination
Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
that can occur when a flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
has both stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
and a carpel (pistil) in which the cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
or species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is self fertile and the stamens and the sticky stigma of the carpel contact each other in order to accomplish pollination. The term is inaccurately used in many cases where an outside pollinator
Pollinator
A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...
is actually required; such plants are merely self fertile, or self pollenizing
Pollenizer
A pollenizer or polleniser, sometimes pollinizer or polliniser is a plant that provides pollen.In American English, the words pollenizer and pollinator are often confused: A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves the pollen, such as bees, moths, bats, and birds...
.
Few plants actually self pollinate. The mechanism is seen most often in some legumes such as peanut
Peanut
The peanut, or groundnut , is a species in the legume or "bean" family , so it is not a nut. The peanut was probably first cultivated in the valleys of Peru. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing tall...
s. In another legume, Soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
s, the flowers open and remain receptive to insect cross pollination during the day; if this is not accomplished, the flowers self pollinate as they are closing. Other plants that can self pollinate are many kinds of orchids, peas, sunflowers, tridax,etc.
Self pollination limits the variety of progeny and may depress plant vigor
Inbreeding depression
Inbreeding depression is the reduced fitness in a given population as a result of breeding of related individuals. It is often the result of a population bottleneck...
. However, self pollenizing can be advantageous, allowing plants to spread beyond the range of suitable pollinators or produce offspring in areas where pollinator populations have been greatly reduced
Pollinator decline
The term pollinator decline refers to the reduction in abundance of pollinators in many ecosystems worldwide during the end of the twentieth century....
or are naturally variable.
Pollination can also be accomplished by cross-pollination.
See also
- CleistogamyCleistogamyCleistogamy or automatic self-pollination describes the trait of certain plants to propagate by using non-opening, self-pollinating flowers...
- Pistil
- PollinationPollinationPollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilisation and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains transport the male gametes to where the female gamete are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself...
- Plants