Pollination is the process in which the pollen grain is taken to the region where the plant's female gamete is located. In angiosperms, we can define the transfer of the pollen grain from the male part of a flower to the female part, that is, from the anther to the stigma. This transfer can occur within the same flower or between different flowers. When it occurs in the same plant, we say that a self-pollination; when it occurs in different plants, the pollination is cross-pollinated.
→ How does pollination take place?
Pollination can take place in different ways and with the help of different agents. Living agents are called biotics, and environmental factors are called abiotics. Among the biotic factors, we can mention insects (entomophilia), such as the bee; bats (chiropterophilia) and birds (ornithophilia). As abiotic factors, we can mention wind (anemophilia) and water (hydrophilicity).
→ What strategies do plants have to ensure pollination?
the plants that are pollinated by abiotic agents,
like wind, they tend to have large amounts of pollen and do not have nectar, odors, or strong colors, as they do not need to attract any organisms. When we talk about plants pollinated by biotic agents, we noticed a series of adaptations that guarantee the attraction of living organisms and a subsequent reward. We can clearly see this by looking at a flower with a pleasant smell and full of nectar. These strategies ensure, for example, that animals seek them out in search of a reward and, secondarily, play the role of transporting the pollen.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Among the most important pollinators, the bees. Both plants and these animals themselves have adaptations that ensure pollination. Bees, for example, have specialized mouthparts for collection and body hair, which helps to capture pollen. Plants, in turn, to attract bees, have flowers with showy color, usually in blue or yellow, and typical marks that indicate the position of the nectar.
By Ma. Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "What is pollination?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/biologia/o-que-e-polinizacao.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
