What is the difference between self pollination and cross pollination

Flowers help plants to propagate. A flower is the most beautiful part of the plant and the one responsible for the process of pollination. Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains produced by the flower from its anther to the stigma of the same or different flower. This process takes with the help of natural agents like birds, insects, and biological agents like the water and the wind.

These are known as pollinating agents. Pollination of the pollen grains can occur in the same flower or in two different flowers.

Based upon the location of transfer of the pollen, pollination is of the follwing two types. We will now study these two methods of pollination and what is the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination. What is Self-pollination? Self-pollination happens on a single flower. It is the primary method of pollination.

It involves the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma part of the same flower. The process is straightforward and quick, and easy to understand, as well. In this process, the pollen grains from the anther or the flower's male reproductive structure get transferred to the stigma or the female reproductive structure of the same flower or of another flower on the same plant.

The pollen grains are carried by the wind, water, or animals. Plants like orchids, oats, legumes, peas, sunflowers, peanuts, peaches, potatoes, and wheat follow self-pollination. In the case of self-pollination, the same plant's genetic material is used to form gametes, and finally, the zygote. Hence, self-pollination leads to the production of plants which do not have genetic diversity.

Self-pollination occurs in flowers when both the reproductive parts, the stamen and the carpel, mature at the same time. This method does not require any pollinating agents or any nectar and pollen to attract insects or birds. What is Cross-Pollination?

Cross-pollination is the second and more diverse form of pollination. It occurs when there is a transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower. Sometimes cross-pollination will cause some serious problems to the gardener where they wish to save their seeds from year to year. Unintentional cross-pollination will muddy your traits as well. You can also prevent cross-pollination by shedding the pistils earlier. You can do that either before or after to prevent them.

Self-Pollination is a process in which the pollen of a flower will be transferred to the stigma of the same or different flower. It will be sometimes transferred to the genetically identical flower. It can also be placed on another flower or the same plant. This kind of pollination happens in flowers where it will contain stamen and carpel.

These stamen and carpel will mature at the same time. Once they are matured, they will be positioned so that their pollen will land on the stigma of the flower. You can see this type of pollination in many plants, and some of the examples are wheat, rice, and potatoes. There are many other examples available, but these are some of the commonly used examples to describe the process. But remember that some plans which are self-pollinating can also be used for cross-pollination. They also can cross-pollinate themselves.

Sometimes self-pollinating will be called bad. Not only do plants can self-pollinate flowers can also self-pollinate. Some of the common examples to describe self-pollinating in flowers are Arum Lilies and some orchids. The agent that helps in self-pollination are birds, wind, water, and in some rare cases, the plants itself will self-pollinate. This happens when the self-pollination happens within the closed flower. Pollination takes two forms: self-pollination and cross-pollination.

Self-pollination occurs when the pollen from the anther is deposited on the stigma of the same flower, or another flower on the same plant. Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower on a different individual of the same species. This method of pollination does not require an investment from the plant to provide nectar and pollen as food for pollinators. Living species are designed to ensure survival of their progeny; those that fail become extinct.

Genetic diversity is therefore required so that in changing environmental or stress conditions, some of the progeny can survive. Self-pollination leads to the production of plants with less genetic diversity, since genetic material from the same plant is used to form gametes, and eventually, the zygote.

In contrast, cross-pollination—or out-crossing—leads to greater genetic diversity because the microgametophyte and megagametophyte are derived from different plants.

Because cross-pollination allows for more genetic diversity, plants have developed many ways to avoid self-pollination. In some species, the pollen and the ovary mature at different times. These flowers make self-pollination nearly impossible.

By the time pollen matures and has been shed, the stigma of this flower is mature and can only be pollinated by pollen from another flower.