Artificial Pollination: Introduction, Types, Methods, Advantages

Artificial pollination is a type of mechanical pollination that includes humans manually transferring pollen from one flower to another to help in fertilisation. It does not involve any natural pollinators like bees, birds, wind, or water. It results in successful seed and fruit production. It mimics the natural process of Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants by manually transferring pollen to the stigma.

This Story also Contains

1. What is Artificial Pollination?
2. Types of Artificial Pollination
3. Method Involved in Artificial Pollination
4. Stages of Artificial Pollination
5. Advantages of Artificial Pollination
6. Artificial Pollination Disadvantages
7. Uses of Artificial Pollination
8. MCQs on Pollination

In modern biology, artificial pollination is an important method for increasing crop yield. It maintains the genetic traits and develops the hybrid plant varieties. Artificial pollination helps ensure fertilisation in plants by manually bringing pollen to the stigma. With the growing decline in natural pollinators, artificial pollination has become an essential tool for sustainable agriculture, improved fruit quality.

What is Artificial Pollination?

The pollination by insects, birds, animals, water, and wind are the primary pollinators. Fruit set, seed formation and seed dispersal are all impacted by insufficient pollination. Humans use artificial pollination to counteract these consequences. Humans pollinate plants using mechanical methods in sexual reproduction. The use of this approach is crucial since there are frequently insufficient pollinators, and occasionally it is dangerous to introduce new ones. It is thought that this method can replace natural pollination.

Types of Artificial Pollination

Depending on the techniques utilized, artificial pollination can happen in many ways. Artificial pollination can be divided into two basic categories:

• Hand pollination

• Mechanical pollination

Each artificial pollination technique has advantages and disadvantages of its own. Both of them are discussed below:

Method Involved in Artificial Pollination

Different methods are used depending on the plant type—whether it has separate male and female flowers or is self-pollinating. Below are some common techniques used in artificial pollination to support successful fertilisation, with the significance of seed and fruit formation.

Method I

The majority of plants that adopt this approach are vegetables since they have distinct male and female components. We take the male flowers and cut off their petals for this procedure. To prevent pollen transfer to the fingers during this procedure, avoid contacting the stamen. The next step is to look for a female flower that has bloomed and pushed back its petals.

Then, to transport the pollen from the stamens of the male flower to the stigma of the female flower and enable pollination, we must roll the two smoothly and gently.

Method II

To gather as many pollen grains as possible, we can move cotton over the stamens of male flowers. After that, the pollen is discharged across the female flower's stigma.

Method III

This technique is primarily suitable for plants like tomatoes, beans, peppers, etc. that self-pollinate. In this technique, fans are positioned above the branches to gently shake the stems, causing pollen grains to land on the stigma.

Stages of Artificial Pollination

Artificial pollination involves a series of carefully controlled steps to ensure successful fertilisation in flowering plants. Below are the main stages involved in artificial pollination.

1. Different plants are used to choose the male and female blooms. The pollinating insects can be kept away by covering the blossoms.

2. Use one of the artificial ways to pollinate the flowers once they have reached sexual maturity.

3. To make sure the pollen has adhered to the pistil of the female flower, gently brush it against the stamens and blow on it.

4. Until the fruit begins to form, re-cover the fertilised bloom.

In this way, artificial pollination of the flowers to produce fruits can be done.

Advantages of Artificial Pollination

Artificial pollination offers several advantages, making it a valuable technique in both agriculture and plant breeding. The benefits of artificial pollination are numerous. Below is a list of a few of them

• Artificial pollination can improve the size and quantity of Parts of a Seed.

• It can transform blossoms into fruits for export.

• It is more appropriate because it is independent of random variables.

• This sort of pollination allows us to create a wide range of hybrid plants.

Artificial Pollination Disadvantages

The main drawbacks of artificial pollination include the time commitment and the uncertainty of fertilization. Staff members may need to undergo extensive training in artificial pollination.

For example, growers of vanilla have an eight to twelve-hour window following flowering during which to pollinate flowers. The flower will wilt and die without developing a pod once this time has passed or if the worker is ineffective in delivering the pollen package.

Uses of Artificial Pollination

As the number of natural pollinators has declined, artificial pollination has become more common. Some of the common uses are discussed below:

• Genetic diversity is one of the major contributions to biodiversity as it supports the ecological succession and strengthens the plant against diseases.

• Artificial pollination is also effective in promoting genetic diversity as it is becoming a substitute for declining pollinator populations.

• The use of artificial pollination also helps in mitigating crops despite the limitations of biodiversity.

• Artificial pollination facilitates cross-pollination, which is important for genetic diversity among the crops.

MCQs on Pollination

Question: Identify the incorrect statement related to Pollination:

1. Pollination by wind is more common among abiotic pollination.

2. Flowers produce foul odors to attract flies and beetles to get pollinated.

3. Moths and butterflies are the most dominant pollinating agents among insects.

4. Pollination by water is quite rare in flowering plants.

Answer: Pollination by Insects- Insects are highly important biotic pollinators among animals and are directly related to the sexual reproduction of many flowering plants.
Control over Pollinators: The significant pollinators among insects include moths and butterflies. It is these that come to flowers for extracting nectar and accidentally transfer pollens from one plant flower to another so that fertilization and fruit can be formed in these plants.
This mutualistic relationship between insects and flowering plants is vital for biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Hence, the correct answer is Option 3) Moths and butterflies are the most dominant pollinating agents among insects.

Question: There are 2 plants. Plant A do self pollination while plant B do cross pollination. Which of the following plant will survive in disease attack?

1. Plant A

2. Plant B

3. Both plants A and B

4. None of them

Answer: Cross-pollinated Plant B is more likely to withstand a disease assault. This is so that there will be more genetic variety throughout the population. Cross-pollination introduces genetic variation into the progeny. In turn, this raises the possibility that at least some people will possess genetic characteristics that enable them to withstand or fight the disease. On the other side, self-pollination in Plant A reduces genetic variety, increasing the risk of illness in the entire population.

Option 1 is incorrect because plants that self-pollinate may have less genetic variety, which leaves them more susceptible to disease assaults.

Option 3 is incorrect because Plant B has a greater chance of surviving a disease assault because of its genetic variety via cross-pollination, even if both plants may survive an attack from the illness.

Option 4 is incorrect because for cross-pollination, at least one of the plants, Plant B, has a greater chance of surviving.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2) Plant B

Question: Why is cross-pollinationbetter than self-pollination?

1. Defend against diseases

2. Variation in species

3. New traits to the plant

4. All of the above

Answer: Because it results in species diversity, cross-pollination is preferred. No mutations result from self-pollination. Variation gives the plant new qualities that can be beneficial to it. For instance, it aids the developing plant's immunity against disease.

Option 1 is incorrect because cross-pollination is the exchange of pollen grains between plants that have distinct genetic make-ups. Cross-pollination results in the generation of genetically varied progeny that are better able to fend off pests and illnesses.

Option 2 is incorrect because of species variety: When two distinct individuals' genetic material is combined through cross-pollination, more variance is present in the progeny than when the process occurs naturally. As a result of this variety, new characteristics or trait combinations may emerge that may be more suited to adapt to shifting environmental conditions.

Option 3 is incorrect because the plant acquires new qualities: Cross-pollinated plants are more likely to generate offspring with favorable features than self-pollinated plants. By choosing and crossing plants with desired qualities, new types of crops may be generated, making cross-pollination a crucial technique in plant breeding programs.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4)All of the above

Also Read:

• MCQs on Pollination
• Difference Between Pollination And Fertilization
• Difference Between Self Pollination and Cross-Pollination