Production of non-opening, self-pollinating flowers

Cleistogamy is the scientific term for the production of small flowers which do not open and thus self-pollinate and self-fertilise in the bud. The opposite case of a "normal“ plant with opening flowers is called chasmogamy. Introducing cleistogamous behaviour to genetically modified crops may help prevent out-crossing, and is one strategy for biocontainment being investigated by Co-Extra researchers.