Chapter 10.2, Problem 5MI

Summary Introduction

To describe:

The process of self- pollination in plants

Introduction:

The study of heredity is called genetics. Gregor Mendel was a mathematician whose experiments with garden pea plants gave insight into the inheritance of traits. He developed the law of segregation to explain how hybrids are formed.

Answer to Problem 5MI

The transfer of male gamete (pollen) from a flower to the pistil of the same flower is called self- pollination.

Explanation of Solution

Pollen grains are formed within the male anthers of flowers. Pollen contains the male gametes needed for fertilization. Pollen grains carry the hereditary units from male parent plant to female parent plant. The transfer of pollen grains from a male reproductive organ to a female reproductive organ is in a plant is called pollination.

In peas, both organs are located in the same flower and are tightly enclosed by petals. This prevents pollen from other flowers from entering the pea flower. So pollen grains are pollinated in the same flower. This is called self- pollination as male and female gametes belong to the same flower. Peas normally reproduce by self- pollination; that is male gametes and female gametes come from same plant.