Difference between self pollination and cross pollination in plants from a genetics and plant breeding perspective.
Self pollinated plants
Self pollinated plants are those where in which the pollination of flowers occurs through their own pollen. Some mechanisms that aid in self pollination are discussed here in detail.
Cross pollinated plants
In cross pollination the pollination of flower by a pollen from a different flower from the same plant or from an entirely different plant. There are certain characteristics that help cross pollination in nature like showy or colored flowers attract pollinatng agents like honeybees which in turn helps in the act of pollination. Certain developmental characteristics like protandry and protogyny aid in cross pollination example in the case of maize and coconut protandry is present that aids in cross pollination.
Difference between self pollination and cross pollination in plants
| Particular | Self Pollination | Cross-Pollination |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Pollination of a flower by its own pollen | Pollination of a flower by pollen from a different flower |
| Homozygosity trend | Homozygosity increases rapidly | Preserves and promotes homozygosity |
| Inbreeding depression trend | little inbreeding depression | high inbreeding depression |
| Heterosis trend | considerable heterosis | high heterosis |
| Genotypes generation after generation | Homozygous genotypes remain unchanged | Preserves and promotes homozygosity |
| Heterozygosity | Low | high heterozygosity |
| Extent of cross pollination | <5 % cross pollination | Higher cross pollination |
| Examples | Rice, Wheat | Maize, Dates |
Ideal features of molecular markers – Important question area