From what I’ve heard, it seems that when you put a plant’s pollen in another plant’s flower, you can grow a hybrid plant (fruit/vegetable). Is this true?
In: Biology
It is, but only if they are closely enough related. Usually they have to be plants in the same species, but can be different varieties. Sometimes similar species within the same genus can cross-pollinate and create a hybrid.
An excellent example is the citrus fruits. All citrus varieties today are descended from different combinations of 3 original species: mandarins, pomelos, and citrons. Thousands of years of cross-pollination and selection gave us dozens of modern citrus fruits, all of which can pollinate with one another and potentially form new varieties.
This is also the case with many stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, plums), as well as different types of tomatoes or peppers.
Flowers have been selectively bred for centuries, as well. Most of the orchid and hibiscus varieties seen today do not naturally occur anywhere.
As long as their chromosomes are compatible then yes plants can cross breed this way. Most plants arent able to cross though. Think of each plant as a different animal. Cats and dogs dont breed and neither do orange trees and grape vines
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