The Pollination Process Monoecious plants have both male and female flowers on the same plant. Dioecious plants have only one sex of flower per plant. Both monoecious and dioecious plants generally require cross-pollination. When a pollen grain lands on a receptive stigma, it forms a pollen tube down the style to the ovary. Male genetic material passes down the pollen tube and fertilizes an ovule.
Ovules become seeds and the surrounding ovary develops into the fruit.
Male flowers generally appear on the plants several days before female flowers. The female flower is easily recognized by the presence of a miniature fruit below the flower petals. Pollen from the male flower must be transferred to the female flower for pollination and subsequent fruit development to occur. Many insects visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar as food. As they forage, these insects spread pollen grains among flowers, accomplishing pollination.