POLLINATION IN PLANTS

Pollination is defined as the transfer of mature pollen grains from the anthers of one
flower to the mature stigma of the same flower or another flower of the same plant or closely
related species.
TYPES OF POLLINATION
There are two types of pollination. These are;
A. Self-pollination
B. Cross pollination
1.Self Pollination: Self-pollination is the transfer of mature pollen grains from the anther of a
flower to the stigma of the same flower or to that of another flower of the same plant e.g. pea,
cotton, tomato.
2. Cross pollination: Cross pollination is the transfer of mature pollen grains from the anther of
a flower to the stigma of a flower of another plant of the same or closely related species, e.g.
morning glory, Hibiscus, pride or Barbados.
CONDITIONS OR DEVICES WHICH AID SELF POLLINATION:

Some plants have condition or device which aid self-pollination to take place. These conditions
are homogamy and cleistogamy.

1. Homogamy: Homogamy refers to the ripening of the anthers and stigmas of a bisexual
flower at the same time.
2. Cleistogamy: Cleistogamy is defined as a condition in which ripe pollen grains are
deposited on the stigma which becomes ripened at the same time.
ADVANTAGES OF SELF- POLLINATION
1. It may not waste pollen grains
2. It is a sure way of ensuring pollination especially in bisexual flowers

DISADVANTAGES OF SELF –POLLINATION

1. The off springs produced are less adapted to the environment
2. It leads to the production of weak off springs due to continuous self-pollination

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SELF-POLLINATION AND CROSS POLLINATION

SELF-POLLINATION CROSS POLLINATION
1 It takes place only in bisexual It takes place in both unisexual and bisexual
plants (plants with both male and plants
female organs)
2 One parent is involved Two parents are involved
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 3 It does not ensure new varieties It results in the formation of new varieties
4 Pollination can occur without an It requires and external agent
external agent
5 Pollen grains are effectively Most of the pollen grains are wasted
utilized

CONDITIONS OR DEVICES WHICH MAY AID CROSS POLLINATION TO TAKE

PLACE.
Conditions or devices which may aid cross pollination to take place are
a. Dichogamy
b. Unisexuality
c. Self- sterility.
A) Dichogamy: Dichogamy refers to the ripening of the anthers and stigmas of a bisexual
flower at different times. Dichogamy occurs in two ways. These are protandry and protogyny.

(i) Protandry: Protandry refers to the condition in which the anther of a flower mature earlier
than the stigma of that flower or other flower of that same plant so that the mature pollen grains
are only useful to flower of other plants which have mature stigma to receive them.

(ii) Protogyny: This refers to the condition in which the stigma of a flower matures earlier than
its own pollen grains or those of other flowers of the same plant so that it can only receive
pollen grains from flowers of other plants.

(B) Unisexuality: Unisexuality is a situation in which some plants bear only male or female
flower and not both on the same plant. Such plants are said to be dioecious plants. E.g. pawpaw.
However, in a monoecious plant though the male and female flowers are borne by the same
plant, the female flowers are usually situated higher than the male flowers so that the pollen
grains may not reach the stigma of the female flowers. Thus, they will be received by the stigmas
of the female flowers of other plants.

(C) Self - sterility: Self sterility refers situation in which some plants make to themselves
sterile. When pollen grains come from other plants, fertilization can take place, however, the
presence of pollen on their stigmas is injurious to the further development of the plant. E.g
Passion flowers and tea.

ADVANTAGES OF CROSS POLLINATION

i. It leads to the production of healthier offspring than self-pollination

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 ii. New varieties of off springs are also formed
iii. It produces more viable seeds
iv. Offspring produced are more adapted to their environment
DISADVANTAGES OF CROSS POLLINATION
i. It greatly relies on the presence of external agents like wind or insects
ii. It can lead to wastage of pollen grains especially when it sis pollinated by wind

AGENTS OF POLLINATION:
Agents of pollination are responsible for pollination to occur in plants. They include

a. Insects
b. Wind

However, water and other animals like snails, bird, bat and man can also be pollinators.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSECT POLLINATED FLOWERS

Insect pollinated flowers are called entomophilous flowers. They exhibit certain
characteristics which are as follows:
(i) They have large and conspicuous flowers. Flower structure usually shows elaborate
structural modifications adapted for trapping insects such that pollinators can be dusted with
pollen grain and come in contact with stigma when they feed on nectar.
(ii) Petals are usually brightly coloured. Petals are also arranged in such a way to receive the
visiting insect become dusted with pollen grains. However, flowers pollinated by nocturnal
insects are usually pale coloured as colour vision is not important at night.
(iii) They possess scent
(iv) Nectar is also present.
(v)The stigma is flat with sticky surface to enable it receive pollen grains.
(vi) The stamen lies within the flowers. The anther is usually small and firmly attached to the
filaments
(vii) Pollen grains are rough, sticky and relatively few.
(viii) The flowers are usually bisexual
Examples include Pride of Barbados, Hibiscus, Delonix, Cowpea, Crotalaria, etc.

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 CHARACTERISTICS OF WIND POLLINATED FLOWER:
Wind pollinated flowers are called anemophilous flowers. They exhibit certain characteristics
which are as follows

(i) They have small, inconspicuous flowers. Flower structure is simple with one or
more floral parts
(ii) Petals are usually dull coloured
(iii) There is absence of scent
(iv) There is absence of nectar
(v) Stigma hangs outside the flower, is elongated, borne on flexible styles. They are
branched or feathery and are capable of providing a large surface area for trapping
pollen grains.
(vi) Stamens hang outside the flower when mature. Anthers are attached in such a way
that they readily swing in the air and release the pollen grains.
(vii) Pollen grains are small, smooth, light and not sticky and large quantity of pollen
grains are produced.
(viii) The flowers are usually unisexual with male and female flowers occurring on the
same plant or separate plant
Examples are rice, millet, maize, guinea grass, and wheat.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INSECT POLLINATED FLOWERS AND WIND

POLLINATED FLOWERS
S/N INSECT POLLINATED FLOWERS WIND POLLINATED FLOWERS
1 Petals are large, brightly coloured with May be absent or present but if present is
scent, nectar small, dull coloured or green, without scent
or nectar
2 Stigma is enclosed within flower, Stigma hangs outside, is flexible and long
usually small and rigid with sticky and feathery
surface
3 Stamen is enclosed within the flower; Stamen hangs outside the flower; anthers
anthers are small and firmly attached to are large and flexibly attached to the tip
filaments filament
4 Pollen grains are produced in small Pollen grains are produced in large
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 quantities; they are relatively large; with quantities; they are relatively small in size
rough and sticky surfaces and light; with smooth surfaces.

NOTE:
PROCESS OF POLLINATION BY WIND
-The male flowers ripens before the female flower on the same plant
-Hence, it gives room for it to be cross pollinated
-Wind then carries the pollen grain of one (maize plant) to another plant with ripe female flowers
-If the pollen grains fall on a ripe stigma, then cross pollination will occur
PROCESS OF POLLINATION BY INSECT
-The insect lands on the flower in search of food (nectar)
-It then becomes covered with pollen grain from the mature anther
-It then flies to another flower of the same species with some of the pollen on its body, lands on
the stigma of the other flower to suck nectar.
-Thus, in the process, rubs the pollen on the stigma and pollinates it
PROCESS OF POLLINATION BY BIRDS
- They perceive red colour more clearly than insects
-They are larger in size than insects.
-They have better sense of smell than insects. Hence are capable of pollinating flowers without
scent than insects
-Flowers without scent attract birds by producing more nectar than insect pollinated flowers to
attract birds. Example of a pollinating bird is a humming bird.

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