Question

Distinguish between pollination and fertilization.

Short answer

Pollination and fertilization are both sexual reproduction processes, with pollination occurring in plants and fertilization occurring in animals. Pollination is an exterior process in plants, whereas fertilization is an internal process in mammals.

These processes include fusing male and female gametes, but the male and female gametes are distinct in each case.

Step-by-step solution

Sexual reproduction

The act of producing a new species from haploid gametes is known as sexual reproduction. In this process, male and female gametes are fused to form a zygote with the genetic blueprint of a new species individual.

In most cases, reproduction is not regarded as complete until the unique individual can live independently.

Pollination

During pollination, the pollen grains migrate from the stigma to the anther to fuse. Seeds and fruit cannot be produced without pollination. Pollination may be classified into two types: self-pollination and cross-pollination. Pollinating agents are needed for pollination.

Fertilization

The combination of haploid gametes, egg and sperm to generate the diploid zygote is fertilization. A female egg can be fertilized when it is successfully met with male sperm during sexual intercourse. Fertilization is a process by which male and female gametes combine and forms zygote.

The male is a pollen grain in the pollination process, but the male is sperm in fertilization. Pollination necessitates the use of pollinators such as wind and insects, whereas fertilization does not need the help of any form of agent.