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How it Works In order to bear fruit, most plants must be pollinated. The most common form of pollination involves the transfer of pollen grains from the stamens where they are produced to the stigma. The stigma is the receptive surface of the pistil. Pollen tubes grow down through the pistil to the plant's ovules. The sperm migrate through these tubes to fertilize the ovules. Fertilization is necessary for production of viable seeds and the fruits which surround those seeds.
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| Some food crops can be wind pollinated, like corn. But many require insect pollination, including melons, cucurbits, fruit trees like apples and pears, and seed crops for alfalfa and other grains used to feed cattle. The value of honey bee pollination to agriculture in the United States is estimated at $14.6 billion in increased yields and superior quality. | ||||||
