Enlist the merits and demerits of self and cross pollination
Answers
Answer:
When the pollen is transferred from the anthers of a flower to the stigma of the same flower, it is called as self- pollination.
Advantages of self – pollination
In self- pollination, there is no diversity in the genes and therefore the purity of the race is maintained.
The plants do not depend on external factors for pollination and even smaller quantities of pollen grains produce have a good success rate in getting pollinated.
Self- pollination ensures that recessive characters are eliminated.
Disadvantages of self- pollination
Since there is no mixing up of genes, there are no new characters or features that are introduced into the lineage of the offsprings.
Self- pollination is said to reduce the vigor and vitality of the race as there are no new features introduced.
Cross-Pollination
In this type of pollination, the pollen is transferred from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another flower.
Advantages of cross-pollination
Cross-pollination is beneficial to the race of the plant as it introduces new genes into the lineage as a result of the fertilization between genetically different gametes
Cross-pollination improves the resistance of the offsprings to diseases and changes in the environment.
Disadvantages of cross-pollination
There is a high wastage of pollen grains that need to be produced to ensure fertilization occurs.
There are high chances that the good qualities may get eliminated and unwanted characteristics may get added due to recombination of the genes.
Answer:
Merits of self-pollination :
1) Species produce are pure.
2) Failure of pollination is reduced
3) Pollen grains are not wasted.
Demerits of self pollination :
1) reduces the health of species.
Merits of cross pollination :
1) allows variations in the species.
2) better variety is obtained.
Demerits of cross pollination :
1) more pollen grains are wasted
2) less chance of getting the desired characteristics in a species.