Which type of pollination brings genetically different types of polle…

The correct answer is Option (3) → Xenogamy

Pollination is named by where the pollen comes from. In autogamy the pollen comes from the same flower, in geitonogamy from another flower of the same plant, and in xenogamy from a flower of a different plant. Only a different plant can carry different genes.

Option (1) Autogamy — Incorrect. Autogamy is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same flower. The pollen and the egg come from one flower, so the pollen is genetically the same.

Option (2) Geitonogamy — Incorrect. Geitonogamy uses another flower of the same plant. It needs a pollinating agent like cross-pollination, but all flowers of one plant have the same genes, so genetically it is like autogamy.

Option (3) Xenogamy — Correct. Xenogamy brings pollen from a different plant. It is the only type that brings genetically different pollen grains to the stigma.

Option (4) Cleistogamy — Incorrect. Cleistogamous flowers never open. Their anthers and stigma lie close together inside the closed flower, so only the flower’s own pollen reaches the stigma (autogamy).

NCERT Extract:
Pollination – “… (ii) Geitonogamy – Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of another flower of the same plant. Although geitonogamy is functionally cross-pollination involving a pollinating agent, genetically it is similar to autogamy since the pollen grains come from the same plant. (iii) Xenogamy – Transfer of pollen grains from anther to the stigma of a different plant (Figure 1.9b). This is the only type of pollination which during pollination brings genetically different types of pollen grains to the stigma.”