Chasmogamy is a special reproductive mechanism where flowers open to allow cross-pollination. Chasmogamy examples are Monochoria and Lamium. Chasmogamous flowers are those flowers that follow the chasmogamy process. Cross-pollination is the process of transferring the pollen from one flower to the pistil of another flower.

This type of pollination takes place with the help of wind or insects. As chasmogamy is a cross-pollination process, it can be done by hand also to raise new offspring with desired color and pest resistance. In this article, we will discuss the process of chasmogamy with its mechanism, chasmogamy pollination, features, advantages, and disadvantages in detail.

What is Chasmogamy?

Chasmogamy Definition: Chasmogamy is a special type of plant reproductive mechanism that allows flowers to perform cross-pollination. “Chasmogamous” is a Greek word that means “open marriage“.

Chasmogamy is a reproductive mechanism that helps open flowers to perform pollination. Chasmogamy refers to the condition where the flowers open their petals to expose their reproductive parts. It means, in chasmogamy the anthers and stigma of a flower become accessible for the pollination process. Chasmogamy examples: Viola, Monochoria, Lamium, rose, cotton, eggplant, etc.

Also Read: Parts of a Flower and their Functions

Chasmogamy – Reproductive Mechanism

Chasmogamy is a special type of reproductive mechanism that allows the flower to open up its reproductive organs to perform cross-pollination. These flowers and their reproductive structures are larger in nature and thus more pollen needs to be produced. Most angiosperms or vascular plants are hermaphroditic and they produce only chasmogamous flowers to sustain the cross-pollination. Here is the general overview of the chasmogamy process as mentioned below:

Flower Development

The flowers develop within buds. These buds hold the immature reproductive structures of the future flower.

Flower Opening

When the conditions are favorable these buds start to open them up and expose their reproductive organs.

Pollination

The pollinators access the reproductive organs. In the process of chasmogamy, it is possible to do the process by hand. Pollen is transferred from the anthers to the stigma of another flower. This transfer is essential for fertilization.

Fertilization

Once the pollen reaches the stigma of a flower, it starts to germinate. It forms a pollen tube. This pollen tube grows through the style. The style connects the stigma with the ovary of a flower. The pollen or male gametes go through this tube to the ovules. The whole process helps a flower to form the seeds.

Seed Development

The ovules develop into seeds after the fertilization. The ovary also develops later into a fruit. The developed fruit protects the seeds.

Seed Dispersal

The mature seeds separate from the plant through various mechanisms such as wind, water, animals, etc.

Germination

The separate seeds germinate under the favorable conditions that lead to the growth of a new plant.

Also Read: Fertilization in Plants – Process, Diagram and its Types

Features of Chasmogamous Flowers

Chasmogamy is a special type of reproduction strategy where the flowers give open access to the pollinators to perform cross-pollination. The process helps to optimize and combine traits in a particular plant to enhance its ability to cope with the new environment. It also ensures the variety and diversity in the future traits. Here are some major features of the chasmogamy as mentioned below.

• The flowers provide easy access to the pollinators to their reproductive structures.
• The reproductive organs help in the process of cross-pollination by increasing the interaction with pollinators.
• The petals of these flowers have vibrant hues. This feature serves as an enhanced visual effect to attract different pollinators.
• Nectaries are a sugary substance of the flowers that attracts more pollinators. This feature increases the chances of a successful pollination rate.
• Chasmogamous flowers exhibit dichogamy. But sometimes the male and female reproductive structures become mature at different times.
• The temporal separation of the flowers promotes the cross-pollination process.

Advantages of Chasmogamy

Here are some major advantages of chasmogamy reproduction process as mentioned below:

• Chasmogamy generally performs the cross-pollination process between different individuals.
• The process leads to the genetic recombination and production of diverse offspring with various traits.
• Chasmogamous flowers support the process of outcrossing. It reduces the risks of inbreeding.
• The process increases the fitness of the particular plant species.
• Chasmogamous flowers are bright in color and they produce nectar to attract different pollinators.
• Chasmogamy ensures that the pollen of one plant will reach the stigma of another plant. It maximizes the chances of a successful fertilization process with improved seed production.
• Chasmogamous flowers promote genetic variability within populations. It also enhances the capacity of that flower to adapt to the evolving environmental conditions, climate, or habitat.
• The genetic diversity due to chasmogamy provides a buffer against biotic and abiotic stressors.
• Chasmogamy helps in the evolution process of a plant to increase its fitness and long-term survival.

Disadvantages of Chasmogamy

Though chasmogamy have so many notable advantages, but it has so many notable disadvantages too. Let us discuss the disadvantes as mentioned below:

• Chasmogamy increases the risk of self-pollination which leads to reduced genetic diversity in plants.
• The process is dependent on the external pollinators which can be unreliable.
• The chasmogamy is a slow process that can increase the expenditure and may divert resources.
• The pollens can be exploited by the different non-pollinating visitors.

Also Read: Difference Between Insect Pollinated And Wind Pollinated Flowers

Difference Between Cleistogamy and Chasmogamy

Chasmogamy is a reproductive mechanism that helps open flowers to perform pollination. On the other hand, Cleistogamy is a process where the flowers perform self-pollination. Here we are going to discuss the difference between Chasmogamous and Cleistogamous flowers as mentioned below: