DICHOGAMY Meaning and
Definition
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Dichogamy is a term used in biology to describe a reproductive strategy found in certain plants and animals where the male and female reproductive organs mature at different times, preventing self-fertilization and promoting outcrossing. The word "dichogamy" is derived from the Greek terms "dicho," meaning dual or divided, and "gamos," meaning marriage or sexual union.
In plants, dichogamy ensures cross-pollination by reducing the likelihood of self-fertilization, which can lead to inbreeding depression and reduced genetic diversity. This phenomenon can be observed in some flowers, where the male and female reproductive organs mature at different times. For instance, in the genus Aesculus (horse chestnuts), the stamens (male reproductive organs) mature first, followed by the pistil (female reproductive organ), preventing self-pollination.
In animals, dichogamy is commonly seen in simultaneous hermaphrodites, organisms that possess both male and female reproductive organs. Here, dichogamy ensures cross-fertilization by preventing self-fertilization and promoting mating with other individuals. For example, certain species of marine snails exhibit protandrous dichogamy, where individuals initially function as males before transitioning to female reproductive roles.
Overall, dichogamy is a reproductive strategy that promotes outcrossing and genetic diversity by timing the maturity of male and female reproductive organs differently, thus avoiding self-fertilization and facilitating cross-pollination or cross-fertilization between different individuals.
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In botany, maturity of anthers and stigma, or andrecium and gynecium, of an hermaphrodite flower at different times, thus preventing self-fertilization.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DICHOGAMY
- sichogamy
- xichogamy
- cichogamy
- fichogamy
- richogamy
- eichogamy
- duchogamy
- djchogamy
- dkchogamy
- dochogamy
- d9chogamy
- d8chogamy
- dixhogamy
- divhogamy
- difhogamy
- didhogamy
- dicgogamy
- dicbogamy
- dicnogamy
Etymology of DICHOGAMY
The word "dichogamy" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "dicho" meaning "in two" or "divided", and "gamos" meaning "marriage" or "union". Therefore, "dichogamy" can be understood as the state or process of having two different maturation or reproductive phases in a plant, in which male and female reproductive organs are functionally active at separate times.
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