#111 Self-pollination and cross-pollination

Credit: TutorVista

Self-pollination - transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower, or to another flower of the same plant.

Cross-pollination - transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species.

Self-pollination

Source: DNA2life

• ↑ chance of successful pollination à smaller numbers of pollen
• ↑ chance of fertilisation and seed formation
• ↓variation in the offspring.
• ↓ ability to adapt to environmental change.

Cross-pollination

• ↓ chance of successful pollination à large amounts of pollen
• ↓ chance of fertilisation 
• ↑ variation
• ↑ ability to adapt to environmental change.