Dec 22, 2023 at 11:01 PM Update: 4 hours ago
Flowers increasingly ensure that they are pollinated with pollen. This is because there are fewer and fewer insects that can carry pollen from one plant to another. French scientists call this a worrying development.
Biologists from the University of Montpellier compared today’s wild violets with the same species of violets from decades ago. These old violets are grown in the laboratory from old seeds.
The research shows that violets are increasingly self-pollinating these days. The flower buds are also less noticeable and nectar production has decreased. As a result, the flowers are now less attractive to insects.
According to the scientists, this shows that the pollination of flowers is in a negative spiral. Because there are fewer insects to help pollinate, flowers spend less energy making themselves attractive to insects. As a result, insects are less likely to visit the flower and the cycle begins again.
The scientists find this a worrying process. Self-pollination threatens to reduce insects and plant diversity. The research team therefore calls for more to be done to protect endangered plant and insect species.
Pollination of flowers takes place when pollen from a flower lands on the pistil of a flower. Pollination is one of the stages of flower reproduction. If pollination is successful, there is a chance that fertilization will occur.
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2023-12-22 22:01:05
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