Difference Between Self Pollination And Cross-Pollination: Mechanism, & Facts

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Aug 27, 2024 09:13 PM IST

Introduction To Self-Pollination And Cross-Pollination

Self-pollination and cross-pollination are two of the elementary mechanisms of pollination in plants. Differences between these share prime importance when talking about plant reproduction and what that means for resulting genetic diversity.

What Is Self-Pollination?

Self-pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or another flower of the same plant. This allows fertilization to take place without any external pollinating agent.

Characteristics Of Self-Pollination

Same Plant: The pollen is transferred within the same flower or between flowers of the same plant.
Genetic Uniformity: Self-pollination leads to offspring almost entirely like the parent plant and hence is less genetically diverse.
No Pollinators Required: The process does not require any external agent for pollen transfer.
Examples: Common examples of plants exhibiting self-pollination are peas, wheat, sunflowers, etc.

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What Is Cross-Pollination?

Cross-pollination is when the pollen grains are transferred from the anther of one plant to the stigma of another plant, usually different. This process increases the possibility of greater genetic diversity and adaptability in plant populations. It has the following features:

Characteristics Of Cross-Pollination

Different Plants: Pollen is transferred between different plants or flowers, promoting genetic variation.
Genetic Diversity: Cross-pollination results in high genetic diversity in the offspring and hence adaptability to a changing environment.
Pollinators involved: This has to be helped out by external agents, like insects, wind, or water, which carry the pollen.
Examples: Apple, strawberry plants, and most flowering plants have cross-pollination.

Differences Between Self-Pollination And Cross-Pollination

Characteristic	Self-Pollination	Cross-Pollination
Definition	Transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant	Transfer of pollen from the anther of one plant to the stigma of another plant
Pollen Source	Pollen comes from the same flower or plant	Pollen comes from different plants
Genetic Variation	Results in low genetic diversity; offspring are genetically similar to the parent	Results in high genetic diversity; offspring are genetically varied
Pollinator Requirement	No external pollinators needed	Usually requires external agents (insects, wind, etc.) for pollen transfer
Occurrence	Can occur in closed flowers	Requires open flowers for pollen transfer
Examples of Plants	Peas, wheat, sunflowers	Apples, strawberries, most flowering plants
Genetic Uniformity	Leads to genetic uniformity in progeny	Increases genetic variation in progeny
Maturation Timing	Both anther and stigma mature simultaneously	Anther and stigma may mature at different times
Pollen Production	Produces limited amounts of pollen	Produces large amounts of pollen
Inbreeding vs. Outbreeding	Causes inbreeding, reducing the gene pool	Causes outbreeding, maintaining genetic diversity

Conclusion

Self-pollination and cross-pollination are the two most common mechanisms involved in plant reproduction, with different characteristics and implications on genetic diversity. This forms a very essential basis for understanding the biology of plants and makes for an agricultural improvement key.