What process involves the transfer of pollen from the male to the female reproductive structures?

Pollination is the process that involves the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive structures, usually the anthers of flowers, to the female reproductive structures, typically the stigma. This step is crucial for sexual reproduction in flowering plants because it allows for fertilization to occur. Once pollen reaches the stigma, it can germinate and grow a pollen tube down to the ovary, where fertilization can take place.

Fertilization, while an important subsequent step in plant reproduction, refers specifically to the fusion of male and female gametes after successful pollination has occurred. Germination refers to the process whereby a seed develops into a new plant, and sprouting typically describes the initial stages of growth in a seedling. Both of these processes happen after pollination and fertilization, making them not directly related to the transfer of pollen itself.