Read the passage and answer the following question:

In flowering plants, the production of male and female gametes occurs within the pollen grain and embryo sac, respectively. Since both types of gametes are immobile, they require a mechanism to be brought together for fertilization to take place. Pollination is the process that serves this purpose. Pollination refers to the transfer of pollen grains, which are released from the anther to the stigma of a pistil. Flowering plants have developed various remarkable adaptations to accomplish pollination. They rely on external agents to facilitate the process of pollination.

What is autogamy?

Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma of same flower.

Autogamy refers to the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower. It is a form of self-pollination that occurs within a single flower.

In autogamy, the pollen grains released from the anther are deposited directly onto the stigma of the same flower, leading to fertilization without the involvement of external agents or different flowers. This can occur due to various mechanisms such as the bending of the flower's reproductive structures or the timing of pollen release and stigma receptivity.

Autogamy allows for the transfer of genetic material within the same plant and is a common method of reproduction in certain plant species. Therefore, the correct answer is "Transfer of pollen from anther to the stigma of the same flower."

However, autogamy can also have some disadvantages. It can lead to inbreeding depression, which is a decrease in the fitness of offspring due to the expression of recessive harmful genes. Additionally, autogamy can reduce the genetic diversity of a population, which can make it more susceptible to disease.