What is pollination and its types

The Plant pollination It is the biological process by which Pollen is transported From the male structures of a flower to the female parts, either within the same plant (when the flowers have male and female organs or the plant has both masculine and female flowers) or between different plants (in those species in which there are plants with only male flowers and other plants with only female flowers). In the latter case, the process is called Cross pollination.

Through this curious process, the first phase of the reproduction of plant species (or fertilization) is carried out, so, if we ask ourselves What is the function of pollinationclearly we can affirm that it is the first step to achieve the survival and evolution of plant species, through their reproduction.

To expand more information on this topic, we invite you to read this other post about what are the parts of a flower and its functions. Let’s look at the next sections how exactly the pollination occurs, as well as the different types of pollination that exist in nature, because apart is manual or artificial pollination, and the importance of this process.

As we have seen in the previous section, the pollination process is necessary to be carried out Fertilizationwithin the function of plants reproduction. But what is pollination exactly?

The Natural pollination It is the transport of pollen through biotic and abiotic agents, which guarantee that the male gametes (pollen) found in the stamens of the flowers, are deposited in the pistil of the flowers, thus fertilizing the female gametes (ovules).

This process has numerous and different pollination strategies developed by both pollinators and by plants themselves. As Example of the pollination process With adaptation of the plants and through insects, we highlight the amazing case of the Abejorro orchid (Ophrys Bombyliflora), whose colors and texture resemble the body of females of certain species of bumblebees. Through this mimesis, the orchid manages to attract male bumblebee individuals, which will subsequently carry the pollen grains in their bodies covered with hair until reaching another orchid, thus achieving the pollination of this plant species.

The plant world never ceases to surprise us and hides mysteries as amazing as the existence of winds pollinated by the wind. In this section we will see what exactly the pollination classeswhich are grouped into three types:

• Anemophilic pollination or wind pollination.
• Hydrophilic pollination or through water.
• Zoophile pollination or by animals.

Within this last type of pollination, the subgroup of the Entomophilic pollination (made by insects), since there are thousands of species of insects that carry out the pollination process in millions of plants around the ecosystems of the planet. Here you can learn more about what are the pollinating insects and their importance.

We have already seen How important to plants pollination And how it is done, as well as the types that exist, so we only need to talk about the great importance of this process for nature and for us.

Pollination is essential for the balance of ecological systems, as well as the food security of people, since the production of agricultural systems depends directly on the pollination of pollination The crops. As we have seen throughout the article, pollination allows the fertilization and reproduction of plant speciesso that it ensures the existence of new plant individuals and the species are perpetuated. Therefore, it is the process that allows plants to be reproduced and, directly, there is food for herbivorous animals and omnivorous animals, as well as that due to this there is food for carnivorous animals.

On the other hand, the existence of high biodiversity pollinators optimally favors both crop yield, such as Balance of natural ecosystems. Thus, in agricultural and natural ecosystems, resilience can be developed through Biodiversity of pollinators That there are in them, whose ecological function and response to environmental conditions allows minimizing risks due to climate change that threaten the current and future ecosystems. Here you can learn more about the importance of pollination and below you can see a video about this process that is part of the reproduction of vegetables.

Now that you have learned more about what pollination is and what it consists of, it may also be interested in learning more about the reproduction of plants entering this link.

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