Agents of Pollination, Definition, Types, and Examples for NEET Exam

Agents of pollination , whether biotic or abiotic, are essential for plant reproduction. They ensure the transfer of pollen between flowers, leading to the production of seeds and fruits. Understanding these agents highlights the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the importance of conserving biodiversity to maintain balance in nature. Understanding agents of pollination is important in the NEET exam as it helps students grasp the fundamental mechanisms of plant reproduction and their ecological significance.

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Definition of Agents of Pollination

Different types of Agents of Pollination

Abiotic Agents of Pollination

• Wind
• Water

Pollination by Wind (Anemophily)

• Light and Non-Sticky Pollen Grains : Pollen grains in wind-pollinated plants are small, light, and non-sticky to ensure they can easily travel in the air.
• Well-Exposed Stamens: The stamens of these flowers are often exposed to maximize the release of pollen into wind currents.
• Large, Feathery Stigmas: These flowers usually have large and feathery stigmas designed to efficiently trap airborne pollen grains.
• Inflorescence and Ovary Features: Wind-pollinated flowers commonly have single ovules in each ovary and are densely packed into inflorescences. A well-known example is the corn cob, where the tassels act as stigma and style waving in the wind to catch pollen grains.
• Examples : Wind pollination is widely observed in grasses and other plants like wheat, rice, and maize.

Pollination by Water (Hydrophily)

• Limited to Specific Genera: This type of pollination is rare among flowering plants, limited to about 30 genera, mainly monocotyledons. Examples include Vallisneria, Hydrilla, and sea grasses like Zostera.
• Use of Water Currents: Male flowers or pollen grains are released into the water and are passively carried by water currents to reach female flowers.
• Submerged or Surface Flowers: In plants like Vallisneria, the female flower rises to the water surface through a long stalk, while male flowers float on the water.
  • In other plants, such as sea grasses, both male and female flowers remain submerged, and the pollen is transported underwater.
• Pollen Grain Adaptations: The pollen grains in water-pollinated plants are often long and ribbon-like, helping them float and reach the stigma. They are coated with a mucilaginous layer to prevent wetting.
• Role in Lower Plants: Water is also essential for the transport of male gametes in bryophytes and pteridophytes. These plants depend on water for fertilization, limiting their distribution to moist environments.
• Aquatic Plants Pollinated by Wind/Insects: Not all aquatic plants rely on water for pollination. For instance, plants like water hyacinth and water lily produce flowers above the water surface and are pollinated by insects or wind, similar to terrestrial plants.

Also Check:

• Free Toppers Notes for NEET
• Free NEET Lectures by PW Faculties
• NEET Study Material, Free Sample Papers, Book, Toppers Notes, PYQs

Biotic Agents of Pollination

Entomophily (Pollination by Insects)

• It is highly frequent in flowering plants.
• Flowers produce a small amount of pollen grains to avoid wastage.
• Pollens are sticky and have rough surfaces, allowing them to attach easily to insect limbs.
• Flowers and insects often share a coevolutionary relationship, meaning both have adapted to benefit each other over time.
• Insects are attracted to flowers for various reasons, such as nectar, pollen sap, and shelter, or to deposit their eggs.

Ornithophily (Pollination by Birds)

• Pollen grains attach to the beaks or mouths of birds as they feed on nectar.
• Small birds like hummingbirds and honey thrushes are common pollinators.
• Examples of Pollinated Plants :
• Bignonia capreolata: Pollinated by small birds feeding on nectar.
• Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise): Pollinated by honey birds.
• Silk Cotton and Erythrina Trees: These are visited by birds, which may assist in pollination.

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Pollination by Animals

• Includes bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, moths, birds (like sunbirds and hummingbirds), and bats.
• Some primates (e.g., lemurs), arboreal rodents, and even reptiles (like gecko lizards and garden lizards) have been reported as pollinators.
• Animal-pollinated plants often have flowers adapted specifically for certain pollinator species.

MCQs of Agents of Pollination

Q1. Wind-pollinated flowers have;

1. small petals and non-sticky and lightweight pollen grain.
2. no petals and light pollen.
3. colored and large petals with large pollen.
4. small petals and heavy pollen.

Q2. Wind-pollinated flowers are;

1. small, producing a large number of dry pollen grains.
2. large producing abundant nectar and pollen.
3. small, producing nectar and dry pollen.
4. small, brightly coloured producing large number of pollen grains.

Q3. The most common abiotic pollinators is/are;

1. Wind
2. Water
3. Bees
4. Both (1) & (2)

Answers of MCQs of Agents of Pollination