Pollen essay

Pollination is defined as the process of transfer of pollen grains, “from an anther to the stigma of the same flower or of different flower.” If the pollen grains are transferred from an anther to the stigma of the same flower, the process is called self pollination or autogamy.

And just as humans need a variety of foods to remain healthy, a honey bee colony needs a variety of pollen types. Variety is important because not all the amino acids are found in a single type of pollen. Some have a greater assortment than others, so eating a variety of pollen types is the ticket to good colony nutrition.

The pollen grains are small, light, smooth and dry. Pollen of some plants are said to be blown to 1,300 km. In some plants as Pinus, pollen grains are winged. The flowers are usually unisexual in some plants e.g. Mulberry is borne in independent catkins which can sway freely and shake off their pollen in air.

When pollen is scarce, a colony may be forced to live off protein reserves stored as vitellogenin in the workers bees’ fat bodies. But that supply is limited, so beekeepers often opt for pollen substitutes before the major flows begin.