samozapylenia

Samozapylenia is the term used in Polish botanical literature to denote self-pollination, or autogamy, in flowering plants. In self-pollination, pollen from a flower or from another flower on the same plant fertilizes the ovules, producing seeds without the involvement of pollen from a genetically distinct individual. Self-pollination can occur within a single flower (autogamy) or between flowers on the same plant (geitonogamy). Some species also exhibit cleistogamy, producing closed, non-opening flowers that ensure self-fertilization.

Ecological and evolutionary aspects of samozapylenia include reproductive assurance when pollinator activity is limited or environmental conditions are unfavorable, enabling population maintenance and rapid colonization. However, self-pollination generally reduces genetic diversity and increases homozygosity, which can lead to inbreeding depression in some contexts. Many plants exhibit mixed mating systems, allocating a portion of reproduction to selfing while retaining the potential for outcrossing when pollinator services are available. Over time, these dynamics influence the evolution of floral morphology and phenology, and can shape population structure and adaptation.

Examples and terminology: crops such as rice (Oryza sativa) and peas (Pisum sativum) are capable of self-pollination to varying degrees, while the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana is predominantly selfing. In many wild species, self-pollination occurs via cleistogamous flowers. In English-language botany, the process is typically called self-pollination or autogamy; samozapylenia is the Polish-language term for the same phenomenon.