CBSE Class 12-science Answered

A self-pollinating plant has both male and female reproductive structures. So, pollen from one flower can fertilize the ovule of the same flower or the ovule of another flower on the same plant. Mendel simply self-pollinated the tall F₁ plants because the female sex cell (the ovule) and male sex cell (the pollen) from the same plant combine to make a new plant, Mendel was able to grow true-breeding plants. When a true-breeding plant self-pollinates, all of its offspring will have the same trait as the parent. For example, a true-breeding plant with purple flowers will always have offspring with purple flowers.