Self-fertilization

Origin

- + fertilization

Full definition of self-fertilization

Noun

1. The fertilization of a plant by itself; self-pollination.
• 2013, Katrina G. Claw, Rapid Evolution in Eggs and Sperm, In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.