selfpollinated

Self-pollinated refers to the transfer of pollen within the same plant, or even within the same flower, leading to fertilization without the involvement of pollen from a different individual. In flowering plants, self-pollination can occur through autogamy, where pollen fertilizes ovules in the same flower, or geitonogamy, where pollen moves between flowers on the same plant. Some species also employ cleistogamy, a form of self-pollination in which flowers never open and fertilization occurs within the closed bud.

Self-compatibility and self-incompatibility govern whether self-pollination can produce viable seeds. In self-compatible species, self-pollen can fertilize ovules and contribute to seed set, while self-incompatibility systems block self-pollination to promote cross-pollination and genetic diversity. The balance between selfing and outcrossing varies among species and populations and can be influenced by environmental conditions and plant architecture.

Advantages of self-pollination include reproductive assurance when pollinators are scarce or mates are unavailable, and the ability to preserve successful genetic combinations, which can aid colonization and rapid seed production. Disadvantages include reduced genetic diversity and potential inbreeding depression, making populations more susceptible to changing environments and disease.

Many crops are predominantly self-pollinating, including wheat, barley, rice, peas, and beans, while others exhibit mixed mating systems. Self-pollination plays a central role in plant reproductive strategies, shaping patterns of genetic variation and evolution across plant lineages.