How is the process of pollination different from fertilisation?
How is the process of pollination different from fertilisation?
4 Answers
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a stamen to the stigma of a carpel. The pollen grains are transferred by agents, such as insects, birds, man, wind and water. It occurs only in plants. However, fertilisation in plants is the fusion of pollen grains, nuclei (male gamete with the egg cell) and secondary nucleus of embryo sac to form a diploid zygote and triploid endosperm nucleus, respectively.
Fertilisation in animals is defined as the fusion of a male gamete (sperm) with a female gamete (ova) to form a zygote during sexual reproduction.
| Pollination | Fertilisation |
| 1. Transfer of pollen grain from anther to stigma of a flower. | Fusion of pollen nucleus and ovule in the ovary. |
| 2. It is a physical process, no new substance is formed. | It is a chemical process in which a new structure called zygote is formed. |
| 3. Its types are self pollination and cross pollination. | Its types are internal and external fertilisation.
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Pollination takes place by agents like wind, water etc. But fertilisation do not require agents. In this way pollination is different from fertilisation.
| POLLINATION | FERTILIZATION |
| Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from an anther to a stigma. | The fusion of male and female gametes is called fertilization |
| Pollen can be transferred by an animal or by the wind. | Fertilization occurs once the pollen grain reaches the stigma, it produces a pollen tube, which grows down through the style to the ovary. |
| The process can be done by the plant itself (self pollination) or through outside agents | For flowering plants, there can be no fertilization if there is no pollination. |