Cross-pollination

Cross-pollination is a biological process that involves the transfer of pollen from the anther (male part) of a flower to the stigma (female part) of either the same flower or another flower. This process is crucial for the reproduction of many types of plants.

Process

Cross-pollination typically occurs with the help of wind, water, or pollinators such as birds, bees, and butterflies. These agents carry pollen from one flower to the stigma of another, allowing for fertilization and the production of seeds.

Types of Cross-Pollination

There are several types of cross-pollination, including:

• Allogamy: This is cross-pollination that occurs between different flowers on the same plant or on different plants of the same species.
• Xenogamy: This is cross-pollination that occurs between flowers of different species.
• Geitonogamy: This is cross-pollination that occurs between flowers of the same plant.

Importance of Cross-Pollination

Cross-pollination is important for several reasons:

• It promotes genetic diversity, which can make plants more resistant to diseases and pests.
• It can lead to the production of new plant varieties and species.
• It helps to maintain the health and survival of plant populations.

See Also

• Pollination
• Self-pollination
• Plant reproduction
• Pollen

References

Cross-pollination Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.