OPEN, CROSS, AND SELF POLLINATION

Open Pollination

• All heirlooms are open-pollinated but not all open-pollinated varieties are heirlooms.
• Pollination done by insects, wind, birds, or natural means.

Heirlooms

• Commercial heirlooms have been passed down for at least 50 years
• Are open pollinated
• Have stable traits from one generation to the next.
• Seeds can be saved and the plants will be very close to the parent.
• Provide a genetic diversity for future breeding

Cross Pollination

• The transfer of a flower’s pollen from the anther to the stigma of genetically DIFFERENT flower.
• Does not preserve the characteristics of the “parent” plants.
• Cross pollinated plants create HYBRIDS.

Self Pollination

• The transfer of a flower’s pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or to the same variety’s flower. Self pollination produces pure lines when the seeds are saved.