Bot. the immediate influence of pollen from one strain of a plant upon the endosperm of another strain, resulting in hybrid characters in the form, color, etc. of the resulting growth, as in the colors of corn grains
See xenia in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(zēˈnē-ə, zēnˈyə)
noun
The direct effect on a hybrid plant produced by the transfer of pollen from one strain to the endosperm of a different strain.