I know the Tomato flower produces pollen in the anthers, and the pollen drops down to the end of the stigma. But since the flower is pointed downward, how does the pollen 1) get stuck to the end of the stigma, and 2) how in the world does the pollen make its way up the style and into the ovary to fertilize the ovules?

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Just normal wind vibration allows self pollenization and most of the time the blossom is pollenized before the blossoms are even open that much.

I call it the pollen granules going DOWN the style, not up as you said, and while I'm sure someone somwhere has studied the exact movement of pollen grains down the style to fertilize the ovules in the ovary at the base of the blossom, but I'm not one who knows those answers. ( smile)

Good Questions. And maybe a Google search would help with pollen grain movement down the style but I'm not in the mood to do that. LOL

Carolyn

Once the pollen sticks to the stigmatic surface the pollen coating ruptures and a pollen tube (like an elongating cell) grows into the style tissue, down the style and into the ovary. Cytoskeletal components (microtubules etc) move the two pollen nuclei down the tube.

and a pollen tube (like an elongating cell) grows into the style tissue, down the style and into the ovary. Cytoskeletal components (microtubules etc) move the two pollen nuclei down the tube.

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That's what I remembered as well, but wouldn't post it until I checked that out and it's too darn HOT here today in true upstate NY for me to even leave the computer on for very long even though I have variable fan speed. As in no AC in this room. Thus no Googling. ( smile)

Microtubules are awesome b'c they'll pull whatever they're pulling an any direction that's predetermined.

Carolyn

Wow... That's much more complicated than I thought it was. Thanks to you both for clearing that up. =)