US: Sophisticated system prevents self-fertilization in petunias
The ability of many plant species to recognize and reject one's own pollen enables them to avoid inbreeding as genetic defects can occur in offspring. Plants recognize their own pollen by a molecular mechanism, known as 'self-incompatibility' or 'SI'. Previous studies revealed that plants and animals have evolved so-called one-to-one self-recognition systems where a single male protein is capable of recognizing a single female protein which can trigger a pollen rejection response.
Click here to read the complet article at phys.org.
