Self-pollination

self-pollination The transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower, or to different flowers on the same plant. GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms New Search: ...

Self-pollination A plant capable of pollinating its own flowers. Self-sterile A plant not capable of reproducing with its own pollen.

Self-pollination occurs when the pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma on the same flower, from another flower on the same plant, or from a flower on another plant of the same variety.

Ideally the anthers of this flower are closed and there is no chance of self-pollination, and the success rate of hybridisation is greatly improved.

Dichogamy- In a perfect flower, maturation of stamens and pistils occurs at different times, thus preventing self-pollination. Dioecious- Having staminate (male) flowers and pistillate (female) flowers on different plants of the same species.

Definition as written by Terry: The second filial generation; hybrids resulting from self-pollination within a population of F1 hybrid plants - they will not come true to form.

The offspring resulting from cross- or self-pollination of the F1 generation. family n.

CROSS POLLINATION - The transfer of pollen from the flower of one plant to the flower on a different plant. Many species require this to set seed. As opposed to self-pollination.

A violet has already pollinated itself before it has opened, so it is almost always pollinated by its own pollen. The stigma of a tomato flower grows through a sheath of anthers, resulting in almost certain self-pollination.

Breeders then "fix" that trait, making the new variety genetically identical through many generations of self-pollination.

See also: Plant, Pollination, Pollen, Flower, Anther