Cross-Pollination

Topic Content:

What is Cross-Pollination?

Cross-pollination is the transfer of mature pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of another flower of another plant of the same species .

The emphasis is on the same species, for instance, pollen grains may be transferred from a pawpaw flower to a mango flower. This transfer cannot be described as cross-pollination since both are not of the same species.

Advantages of Cross-Pollination:

Cross-pollination is preferable to self-pollinationSelf-pollination occurs when the pollen from the anther is deposited on the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant. More because

(i) The products (seeds, offspring) of cross-pollination are more virile than those of self–pollination (hybrid vigourHybrid vigour, also known as heterosis or outbreeding enhancement, is the phenomenon that a hybrid offspring has improved traits, such as growth rate, biomass, stress tolerance, and fertility. For example, hybrids... More)