How is the process of pollination different from fertilisation?
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the stamen to the stigma of a flower. It can be of two types: self-pollination, where pollen is transferred within the same flower, and cross-pollination, where pollen is transferred from one flower to another. This transfer is achieved by agents like wind, water or animals.
Fertilisation, on the other hand, is the fusion of the male germ-cell produced by the pollen grain with the female gamete present in the ovule. After pollination, a tube grows out of the pollen grain and travels through the style to reach the ovary. This fusion of germ-cells produces a zygote which is capable of growing into a new plant.
Thus, pollination is the transfer process, while fertilisation is the fusion process that occurs after pollination.
Explanation
The textbook clearly distinguishes between the two processes. Pollination is defined as the transfer of pollen from stamen to stigma, which can be self or cross-pollination. Fertilisation is defined as the fusion of male germ-cell with female gamete in the ovule, resulting in zygote formation. The key difference is that pollination is a physical transfer process, while fertilisation is a biological fusion process that occurs after pollination.