Fertilization is the fusion of male and female gametes to form a diploid zygote, restoring the full chromosome complement and initiating development of a new organism. In animals it involves the capacitated sperm penetrating the oocyte's investments, the acrosome reaction, fusion of the sperm and egg plasma membrane…
Fertilization is the fusion of male and female gametes to form a diploid zygote, restoring the full chromosome complement and initiating development of a new organism. In animals it involves the capacitated sperm penetrating the oocyte's investments, the acrosome reaction, fusion of the sperm and egg plasma membranes, oocyte activation with cortical-granule release that blocks polyspermy, and the union of the paternal and maternal pronuclei, or syngamy. Fertilization triggers the resumption of meiosis in the egg and the onset of cleavage, and it is the biological foundation of sexual reproduction in both animals and plants, where pollination and double fertilization perform the analogous role. In plant and agricultural contexts, the term fertilization also denotes the application of nutrients, organic or inorganic, to support growth and yield. Research relevant to this topic includes in vitro maturation of immature oocytes, ovarian stimulation and oocyte quality in IVF, prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and the antioxidative protection of sperm mitochondria, alongside agronomic studies of organic, symbiotic, and inorganic fertilization of crops monitored by spectroscopic methods. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research spanning reproductive fertilization and gamete biology as well as plant and soil fertilization, reflecting the term's use across reproductive and agricultural science.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 48 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Nov 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Fertilization, linking to each citing work.