In plants, fertilization between gametes from the same flower is called?

• A. Cross-pollination
• B. Hybrid
• C. Self-pollination
• D. Fertilization

Answer: (C)

Self-pollination occurs when pollen from the same flower’s anther fertilizes its own ovule, so the male and female gametes come from the same flower. This produces offspring that are genetically very similar to the parent, increasing homozygosity. It can ensure seed production when pollinators are scarce or plants are isolated, but it lowers genetic diversity over time. In contrast, cross-pollination uses pollen from a different flower, boosting genetic variation in the offspring. A hybrid refers to the offspring resulting from two different varieties or species, which is about the parentage rather than the fertilization event itself. Fertilization, more generally, is the fusion of gametes to form a zygote and can occur within the same flower or between flowers.