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    REPRODUCTION IN FLOWERING PLANTS

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    Badejo Anthony
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    REPRODUCTION IN FLOWERING PLANTS

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    Badejo Anthony
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    notes

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    0 views7 pages

    REPRODUCTION IN FLOWERING PLANTS

    Uploaded by

    Badejo Anthony
    notes

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 7

    REPRODUCTION IN

    FLOWERING PLANTS

    Pollination can take place with the help of agents: wind or


    insects.

    Pollination: transfer of pollen grains from the male


    part of the plant (anther) to the female part (stigma).
    Pollen grains.

    Self-pollination and cross-pollination

    Self-pollination - transfer of pollen from the anther to the


    stigma of the same flower, or to another flower of the same
    plant.
    Cross-pollination - transfer of pollen from the anther of a
    flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the
    same species.

    Self-pollination
    • ↑ chance of successful pollination à
    smaller numbers of pollen  ↑ chance of
    fertilization and seed formation  ↓variation
    in the offspring.
    • ↓ ability to adapt to environmental
    change.

    Cross-pollination
    • ↓ chance of successful pollination à large
    amounts of pollen
    • ↓ chance of fertilisation
    • ↑ variation
    • ↑ ability to adapt to environmental change.
    Common misconceptions

    Students often get confused between pollination and seed


    dispersal. When animals such as insects carry pollen, they
    aid pollination. When animal carry seeds, they aid seed
    dispersal.

    Growth of pollen tube and the process of fertilization

    Figure below shows a section through a single carpel.

    If pollen grains are of the same species as the flower they


    land on, they may germinate. Germination is triggered by a
    sugary solution on the stigma, an involves the growth of a
    pollen tube from the pollen grain.
    The pollen tube contains the male nucleus, which is needed
    to fertilize the ovule inside the ovary. The pollen tube grows
    down the style, through the ovary wall, and through the
    micropyle of the ovule.

    Fertilization is the fusion of the male nucleus with the female


    nucleus. If the ovary contains a lot of ovules, each will need
    to be fertilized by a different pollen nucleus.

    Formation of seed, conditions affecting germination

    The fertilised ovule divides by mitosis to form a seed


    containing the embryo plant and food stores called
    cotyledons.

    • The wall of the ovule forms the seed testa


    (coat).
    • The ovary wall develops into a fruit, which may
    be fleshy (e.g. plum) or a dry pod (e.g. lupin or pea).

    Seed dispersal

    The flowers produce seeds which can be dispersed by


    the wind or other animals, providing a means of
    colonizing new areas.
    Nutmeg is
    dispersed by
    birds. Photo
    credit:
    russolab.unl.edu

    1. Wind-dispersed seeds

    • Fruits contain seeds, and usually have a


    parachute or a wing to help them be carried away
    from the parent plant by the wind.

    • Examples: dandelion, sycamore

    The dandelion fruit has a group of fine hairs


    called a pappus, which catches the wind and
    acts like a parachute. The fruit
    counterbalances the pappus.

    The sycamore has a wing with a large


    surface area. When the fruit drops off the tree
    it spins, slowing down in descent. If caught by
    the wind the seed will be carried away from
    the parent plant, reducing competition for
    nutrients, water and light.
    2. Animal-dispersed seeds

    There are 2 main modification of fruits for animal


    dispersal: succulent fruits and hooked fruits.

    Succulent fruits attract animals because they are


    brightly coloured, juicy and nutritious.
    When eaten , the seed pass through
    animal’s faeces , which may be a long way from
    the parent plant. The faeces provides nutrients
    when the seeds germinate.

    Hooked fruits catch on to an animal’s fur as it


    brushes pa st the parent plant. Eventually the
    seeds drops off, or the animal grooms itself to
    remove them. This disperses the seeds away from
    the parent plant.

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