Most flowering plants can achieve pollination in several different ways. Those that produce pollen and carpels on the same plant may be self-pollinated, but they may also be cross-pollinated by insects or other pollinators. The cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) shown here is able to produce seed whether it is self- or cross-pollinated. Is one type of pollination better for reproductive success than the other? Researchers conducted controlled experiments to test for effects of different types of pollination on cape gooseberry fruit size and seed production. The types of pollination included self-pollination, cross-pollination by bees, and manual cross-pollination (transferring pollen from one plant to another by hand). Results are shown in the graphs here. Compared to self-pollination, do bees have a significant impact on fruit mass? How about on seed formation?

Video transcript

Hi all. Let's look at our next question. It says for plants that rely on wind for dispersal, how is their pollen adapted to wind pollination? Well let's look through our answer choices here. Choice A. Says they produce sticky pollen while sticky pollen will be an adaptation for something like insect pollinators where you want the pollen to stick to the pollinators that are carrying it from one plant to another. So that would not be our choice for pollen adapted to wind pollination choice B. Says they produce heavy pollen. Well that's not going to be our answer either. We need the wind to pick up and carry the pollen. So heavy pollen would be disadvantageous if they relied on wind pollination. Choice C. Says they produce rough pollen. That's not our answer. Like sticky pollen. Rough pollen will be an adaptation for insect pollinators or perhaps bird pollinators where the rough pollen might stick onto um the carriers of that pollen as they move from plant to plant. And finally Choice D. They produce small pollen. Well this is going to be our answer. Ah Small and light pollen would be an adaptation to win pollination so that the pollen can be easily carried up carried along with the wind to other plants. So plants that rely on wind for dispersal, their pollens adapted to win pollination by choice. D. They produce small pollen. See you in the next video