Summary
Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma by wind, insects or other agents.
In depth
Self-pollination keeps traits but reduces variation; cross-pollination increases diversity. Mechanisms to avoid selfing: separate sexes, timing differences and self-incompatibility genes.
Pollen grains land on the stigma, germinate and grow a tube carrying sperm nuclei to the ovule. Adaptations to prevent self-pollination include protandry and self-incompatibility. Pollinator loss is a threat to crops.
Common mistake: pollination is not fertilisation; fertilisation happens when sperm fuses with egg.
Pollination is transfer of pollen from anther to stigma. Agents include insects, birds, bats, wind, water and humans. Specialisation can be extreme, as with fig wasps and the Madagascan orchid with a 30 cm spur and its moth. Self-incompatibility genes (S-locus) prevent fertilisation by the same plant. After landing, the pollen grain makes a pollen tube that grows down the style, guided by chemical signals, to the ovule.
Bees pollinate about 75 percent of leading crops, and honeybee and wild bee declines threaten food security. Hand pollination is used for vanilla and in some orchards. Pollen allergy (hay fever) is caused mainly by wind-pollinated plants.
Remember: pollination is not fertilisation; fertilisation takes place after the pollen tube delivers sperm to the ovule.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pollination?
Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma by wind, insects or other agents.
Which area of biology covers Pollination, and how advanced is it?
Pollination is one of the 56 topics in Plant Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Double Fertilisation, Seed Dispersal, Flowers.
Can you give an example of Pollination?
Bees, birds, bats and wind each pollinate different plants.
What should I learn before Pollination?
Pollination is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Plant Biology that pair well with it include Plant Kingdom, Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll.
What topics are related to Pollination?
The closest topics to Pollination are Double Fertilisation, Seed Dispersal, Flowers, Plant Kingdom. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Pollination?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Pollination. To practise the whole of Plant Biology, use the Plant Biology quiz.
How is Pollination different from Double Fertilisation?
Pollination: Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma by wind, insects or other agents. Double Fertilisation: In angiosperms one sperm fertilises the egg and the other forms the triploid endosperm. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
What is a common mistake about Pollination?
Pollination is not fertilisation; fertilisation happens when sperm fuses with egg.
How should I study Pollination step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Double Fertilisation and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Plant Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.