what happens if more than one pollen grain reaches or enters a stigma?
By Zed
United Kingdom 
Has the stigma already "closed up" after the first grain? Do the grains produce different fruits?
Perhaps the ovary as usual bears fruit, but the fruits contain more seeds?
Could it be that after the initial pollination, the stigma is infertile and so any new grains simply go to waste, like a burglar coming upon an empty shop where all the goods have already been stolen?
I have been asking this question to my tutors, colleagues, several professional botanists and many gardeners, as well as more than once on y/answers and horticultural websites, and nobody knows!
7 Sep, 2008
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Well Zed not sure that the eminent list of people you mention dont know or more likely its such a complex procedure that any answer likely to leave you with more questions.
I am certainly no expert and do not qualify to be included in the list of people you ve already consulted.I hope you dont mind but my take on this is only what I have personally observed so may be regarded as anecdotal.
Yes I think the stigma does become infertile blooms often drop once pollenated and if you observe the classic pollenator ie bees they do not return to a bloom they have successfully visited.Nor do other bees.
There are few natural instances where new hybrids of plants are developed through cross fertilisation .
Many new varieties are developed by mechanical means of introducing pollen from one variety to another.
Why has nature not already developed these varieties with the billions of pollenators over thousands of years?
I would personally conclude that this suggests the pollenation process is a very selective one.
8 Sep, 2008