Pollination

Pollination ( pollination ) is the transfer of pollen ( pollen, the pollen grains) with the therein sperm cells to the receptive female flower parts. In the seed plants ( Spermatophyta ) pollen is deposited on the stigma of the fruit sheet in pollination.

The germinating pollen grain corresponds to a male gametophyte, female gametophyte located in the carpel of the flower, where it is enveloped by the integument and nucellus.

Pollination in gymnosperms ( gymnosperms )

In the gymnosperms, the pollen sacs tear on. The pollen grains are usually caused by the wind on the exposed ( bare - hence the term gymnosperm ) transferred ovules. By the micropyle occurs from a liquid droplet on which the pollen grains adhere. By drying the pollen grains are sucked into the pollen chamber. Subsequently, the micropyle is closed by cell growths of the integument. The germination of pollen is not carried out immediately, but after a few days to one year.

Pollination in angiosperms ( Angiospermae)

In the angiosperms ( Angiospermae) the transfer of pollen grains on the stigma of the flower temple by wind, water or animals occurs. The pollen grain germinates within hours and the pollen tube grows through the style into the ovary.

Types of pollination

We distinguish between the following types:

• Self- pollination: pollination by pollen from the same plant
• Cross-pollination: pollination by pollen of another plant

Characteristic syndromes of plants

Many plants carry a variety of features that have arisen in evolution as an adaptation to their pollinators. This feature complexes in adaptation to specific pollinators are called:

• (Wind) anemophily
• (Water) hydrophilicity
• (Animals) Zoophilia ( Bats) Chiropterophilie
• (Birds ) Ornithophilie
• ( Insects) entomophily ( Bees) Melittophilie
• ( Flying) Myiophilie
• (Beetles) Cantharophilie
• (Butterflies ) Lepidopterophilie ( Butterflies ) Psychophilie
• (Moth ) Sphingophilie

Pollination as a prerequisite for fertilization

Pollination is an important prerequisite for fertilization and seed formation in seed plants. Can not until after pollination female and male gametes come together ( fertilization ) and the seed formation can take place.

Differences in pollination between gymnosperms and angiosperms

• In the gymnosperms ( gymnosperms ), the pollen grains are of a pollination drop which emerges through the micropyle of the ovule. The pollen is then passed through the micropyle through, in a chamber between the integument and nucellus and germinates from here or spermatozoids are free.
• In the angiosperms ( Angiospermae) the transfer of pollen grains carried to the stigma of the amniotic sheet. Thereafter, the pollen germinates and pollen tube grows through the different parts of the fruit of the sheet to the ovule.