Pollination is the first reproductive step in plants to reproduce. Two plants are normally required for this to happen, but there is a mechanism in which a plant can pollinate itself. This process is known as self -pollination and, in this ecology article, we will explain to you What is self -politicalizationhow it differs from cross pollination and if this strategy presents more benefits than disadvantages.
What is self -politicalization and other types of pollination
Plants need pollination so that the pollen of the floral male anteras reaches the stigma, located in the pistil, and thus can germinate. From this, the pollen tube is developed that Board of the male gamete with the female so that the diploid zygote is fertilized and believed.
To achieve self -pollination, the pistil is sticky so that pollen can be easily trapped when approaching stamens. This usually occurs during a process called Cleistogamia, where pollination occurs before the flower opens, taking advantage of the proximity between the pistils and stamens. Self -politicalization can also happen When the flower is openwhere any small movement makes pollen grains reach the female stigma. In extreme cases, some plants can wait for them to be pollinated and, in case it does not happen, they can close and self -polline. This case is visible in soybeans.
There are several ways for pollination to occur, but the most peculiar is the direct pollinationwhich occurs when there is self -pollination. In this case, the plants have the ability to get stigma to the stigma of the same flower, Without an external pollinizer. These species are autogamous, that is, that the female and male gametes of the same plant are joined. All plants that can self -pollinate must Be hermaphroditassince they need the two plant players.
In these other articles you can find more information about hermaphrodite plants: what are, characteristics and examples or parts of a plant and its functions.
Types of pollination
Other types of pollination can be classified as natural or artificial. Next, we will see them more detail:
- Natural pollination: Entomogams can be (when insects such as bees) or zoophile intervene (when pollen adheres to feathers or animal fur). It can also be dispersed by abiotic means, being anemophilic, when the wind helps pollinize or hydrophilic by water transport.
- Artificial pollination: It is carried out by man, which intervenes in the fertilization process. This method is used when you want to have greater control of progenyso that they have particular characteristics or if there are little pollinators by insulation, especially for crop pollination. It can be carried out with a stick or brush to transfer pollen.
Here you can read more about what pollen is and what is it for.
Difference between autopolination and cross pollination
Self -politicalization and cross pollination are Two different strategies. Therefore, then we will specify what are the differences between self -pollination and cross pollination.
- Self -politicalization: It does not need external elements that pollute it, nor need pollen from other plants of the same species. Autogamous plant flowers can be of small sizes and colors not so vivid, as they have not had the need to develop these strategies. Self -pollinating plants are less frequent. Some examples of self -political plants are peas, plum Santa Rosa (Domestic prunus)tomatoes, soy or some orchids such as Ophrys apifera.
- Cross pollination: Yes you need pollen from other plants. In this cross pollination, natural means of transport such as wind, water or insects are necessary and, to attract the latter, flowers have bright colors to which the arthropod vision responds. Cross pollination plants are more frequent.
In this ecology article, we give you more information about the importance of pollination so you can know more about the subject.
Advantages and disadvantages of self -politicalization
The self -pollination process is a very peculiar reproductive strategy, so it triggers different advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of self -politicalization
Some of the advantages involved in the entire self -pollination process are:
- They do not require external causes To complete its reproduction: this also means that it does not depend on other plants of its species to pollinate, thriving in any place where it is inserted and often becoming invasive plants, pests or weeds.
- Zero pollen waste: Pollen is not lost in the wind, water or animals, making the production of these reproductive cells more efficient. This advantage of autogamy is special for small flowers, which cannot produce large amounts of pollen and need to take advantage of as much as possible.
- Generation of descendants: With more pure lineages and more uniform genetics.
- Adaptation to particular ecosystems: In each new generation plants are reproduced equally well adapted to the particular environment that already inhabit.
Disadvantages of self -politicalization
Some of the disadvantages that the self -pollination process can present are the following:
- Genetic deterioration due to lack of recombination: The purpose of self -fertilization is the increase in homozygous to express recessive genes, but since it is a type of endogamous reproduction, a deterioration of genetic recombination that results in the accumulation of harmful recessive genes is generated.
- Reduction of adaptive plasticity: The lack of genetic exchange also exposes them to pests, diseases or changes in the environment, to which they have not developed adaptation strategies.
- Affected fertility: It is very common in all those organisms that reproduce inbreeding.
On the other hand, in plants it is common for homozygosis to result in excellent adaptations to particular ecosystems, reproducing in each new generation plants equally well adapted.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is self -politicalizationwe recommend that you enter our biology category.
- Medawar, P., & Medawar, JS (1996). From Aristotle to Zoos, philosophical dictionary of biology. Mexico City: Economic Culture Fund.
- Hernรกndez, H., Garcรญa, A., รlvarez, F., & Ulloa, M. (2001). Contemporary approaches for the study of biodiversity. Mexico City: Institute of Biology of the Autonomous University of Mexico.