Means employed by plants to limit self-fertilization in plants

1. Dichogamy: anthers mature, and stigma become receptive at different times
2. Protandry: anther mature before the stigma
3. Protogyny: stigma mature before the anther
4. Self-incompatibility: the pollen grain fails to develop on the stigma of the same flower.
5. Special floral structure: most hermaphrodite flowers have structural features that favor cross pollination, e.g. stigma may be above the anthers thus removing the possibility of pollen falling on the stigma of the same flower. Other have nectar and good scent to attract pollinator.
6. Inflorescence: having many flowers in close proximity on the same stalk favours cross pollination.
7. Some plants have monoecious flower, i.e. separate male and female flowers on the same plant. e.g. maize and coconut.
8. Some plants are dioecious, separate male and female flower of different plants. Despite the advantage of cross fertilization, dioecious plants are not many because only half of the plants are able to produce seeds and there is waste of pollen grains in wind dispersal.

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Dr. Bbosa Science