POLLINATION

Transfer of pollen grains (shed from the anther) to the stigma of a pistil is termed pollination
Types of pollination:
Depending on the source of pollen, pollination can be divided into three types:
a. AUTOGAMY: Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same
flower.
Autogamy is ensured by:
i. synchrony in pollen release
and stigma receptivity
ii. anthers and the stigma
should lie close to each
other.
iii. cleistogamous flowers:
which do not open at all

NOTE : There are two types of flowers-

Chasmogamous flower- Open flowers with
exposed anthers and stigma.
Cleistogamous flower- closed flower with anther and stigma lying close to each other.
Some plants produce both kinds of flowers, such as Viola (common pansy), Oxalis, and
Commelina
How Cleistogamous flowers produce assured seed-set even in the absence of pollinators?
b. GEITONOGAMY: Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of another
flower of the same plant.
Give reason, why geitonogamy is functionally cross-pollination but genetically it is
similar to autogamy?

c. XENOGAMY – Transfer of pollen grains from anther to the stigma of a genetically

different plant.

AGENTS OF POLLINATION
1. Abiotic – wind and water
2. Biotic – animals, such as , insects (bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, flies), birds
(hummingbird and sunbird), sloths, lemur, etc.
 a. POLLINATION BY WIND (ANEMOPHILY):
Anemophilous flowers has following characteristics-
i. Flowers are inconspicuous, lack scent and nectar.
ii. Pollen grains are
light and non-
sticky: easy
transportation with
wind currents
iii. well-exposed
stamens
iv. large, feathery and
sticky stigma to
easily trap pollen grains
v. a single ovule in each ovary
vi. For example: Maize

b. POLLINATION BY WATER (HYDROPHILY):

Hydrophilous flowers has following characteristics-
i. Flowers are inconspicuous, lack scent and nectar.
ii. The pollen grains are light but covered with mucilaginous covering.
iii. Stigma is sticky but unwettable.
iv. For example: Fresh water (Vallisneria, Hydrilla) marine plant (Zostera)
Pollination in Vallisneria:
Why water and wind pollinated flowers produce large number of pollen grains?
c. POLLINATION BY INSECTS (ENTOMOPHILY): Insects particularly bees
are dominating biotic pollinating agents.
Entomophilous flowers has following characteristics:
i. Flowers are large, colourful, fragrant and rich in nectar.
ii. Small flowers become more conspicuous by grouping
iii. flowers pollinated by flies and beetles secrete foul odours to attract these
animals
iv. Flowers give rewards (Nectar and pollen grains ) to visitor insects.
v. Pollen grains are sticky
 vi. Stigma is sticky
• In some cases, the insect & the plant exhibit a mutual relationship (where both benefit
each other).
• For example, the Yucca-moth relationship is a mutual one.
• The insect Moth helps in pollinating the Yucca flower, whereas the flower provides a
space in its locule for the moth to lay eggs.
• The larvae feed on the yucca seed within the fruit.

OUTBREEDING DEVICES
Continued self – Pollination – Inbreeding depression
Ways to prevent self-pollination ad promote cross pollination:
1. Unisexuality: If a flower is unisexual i.e., contain only one sex either female or male,
cross-pollination is the only choice.
2. Dichogamy: It is the lack on synchronization in pollen release and receptivity of stigma
Protandry: When pollen matures and releases before the stigma
Protogyny: When stigma become receptive earlier than pollen maturation and
release.
3. Self-incompatibility: It is a genetic mechanism that leads to pollen growth failure on
stigma of same flower.
4. Herkogamy: The difference in location between androecium and gynoecium.

ARTIFICIAL HYBRIDIZATION
It is the process in which only desired pollen grains are used for pollination & fertilization.
Artificial hybridization is achieved using the following techniques:
o Emasculation
o Removal of anthers from bisexual flowers of female parent plant
o This is done before anthers mature
o Prevents self-pollination
o Bagging
o Covering the emasculated flower to prevent contamination
o Prevents contamination with unwanted pollen
o Desired pollen grains are dusted on stigma
o Flowers are bagged again