certation

noun

cer·​ta·​tion

(ˌ)sərˈtāshən

plural -s

: competition between male elements of different genotype for opportunity to fertilize available female elements especially as manifested by differential growth of pollen tubes

Word History

Etymology

Latin certation-, certatio contest, from certatus, past participle of certare to fight, contend, settle something by a contest, from certus certain

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