self-fertilization
Americannoun
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Botany. fertilization of an ovum of a plant by a male gamete from the same flower (opposed to cross-fertilization).
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Zoology. fertilization of the ovum of a hermaphroditic animal by a sperm from the same individual, as in some species of tapeworm.
noun
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Fertilization that occurs when male and female gametes produced by the same organism unite. Self-fertilization occurs in many protozoans and invertebrate animals. It results from self-pollination in plants. Self-fertilization allows an isolated individual organism to reproduce but restricts the genetic diversity of a community.
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Compare cross-fertilization
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of self-fertilization
First recorded in 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Among a handful of species exist hermaphrodites capable of self-fertilization.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 14, 2024
The researchers tried to collect additional mushrooms in New Jersey and New York, where the fungus is spreading less quickly, but they didn’t find evidence of self-fertilization.
From Science Magazine ● Feb. 2, 2023
Many species of plants, including the sunflower pictured here, are capable of self-fertilization.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022
Many species have specific mechanisms in place to prevent self-fertilization, because it is an extreme form of inbreeding and usually produces less fit offspring.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013
At first sight it would appear that most flowers are especially adapted for self-fertilization; but in fact, although stamens and pistils are in the same flower, there are usually effective preventives for avoiding self-fertilization.
From Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany For High Schools and Elementary College Courses by Douglas Houghton Campbell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
