self-fertilization

self-fer·til·i·za·tion

(self'fer'til-i-zā'shŭn),

Fecundation of the ovules by the pollen of the same flower, or of the ova by the spermatozoa of the same animal in hermaphroditic forms; denoting an extreme type of inbreeding seen in certain plants and animal forms that produce both male and female gametes.

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self-fertilization

(sĕlf′fûr′tl-ĭ-zā′shən)

n.

Fertilization by male gametes from the same individual, as by sperm from the same animal in hermaphroditic species or by pollen from the same plant.

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self′-fer′til·ized′ (-īzd′) adj.

self′-fer′til·iz′ing adj.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

self-fertilization

the fusion of male and female GAMETES from the same HERMAPHRODITE individual. Self-fertilization is fairly rare in animals (occurring, for example, in some snails and nematode worms) but is common in some plant groups. see SELF-POLLINATION. Compare CROSS-FERTILIZATION.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005