Reproduction In Plants

Pollination What are males gametes in plants? Where are they? Pollen grains on anthers What are the females gametes in plants? Where are they? Ovule inside the stigma Pollination  mixing of pollen grains with stigma to cause fertilization What are the different methods of pollination? 1)Wind  pollen designed to be carried by breeze 2)Pollinators  pollen carried by birds, insects, etc…

Fertilization 1)Pollen lands on stigma and chemical signals cause pollen tube to grow down style to the ovary 2)Pollen tube reaches the ovule and deposits 2 male gametes; Inside ovary are 6 haploid cells (n) and 1 diploid nucleus (2n) 3)1 male gamete fuses with 1 female gamete; this becomes the zygote (2n) 4)Second male gamete fuses with diploid endosperm nucleus; this becomes a 3n endosperm (food source for seed)

Seed Formation After fertilization, the flower goes through a total transformation: All waste of energy stop; petals die, scent stops, and nectar dries up All reproductive parts break away was seed forms Ovule becomes seed of future plant Ovary grows into fruit (in some plants) Parts of a Seed: 1)Seed coat  outer protective layer 2)Food store  storage of starch to power growing seed 3)Radicle  grows into the plant’s first root 4)Plumule  grows into the plant’s first shoot Seed Seed CoatFood store Radicle Plumule Pollination

Fertilization to Seed Cotyledon Sepal Petal Carpel Stamen Ovary StyleStigma Filament Anther Pollen Grain Pollination Pollen tube growth Male nuclei Ovule Male nuclei Zygote Seed Radicle Food Store

Seed Dispersal After a seed forms, it remains in a dormant stage for months to years waiting for an environment to grow in The embryo grows into the “fruit” and the protective outer layer called a “pericarp” Seeds rarely drop from their parent plant and grow right there. Why? Competition for resources in soil with parent plant Dispersal  the spreading of seeds to new areas away from the parent plant Wind  seeds designed to be carried by wind Animal  seeds designed to be carried or eaten then excreted by animals

Wind vs. Animal Dispersal What characteristics would a wind seed have: Shape of seed is aerodynamic (works well in wind) so seed can travel great distances Fruit is dry so seed is as light as possible Fruit is hard to protect the seed Little energy in the fruit so it is less likely to be eaten What characteristics would an animal seed have: Color/Shape/Scent is attractive to animals so they eat it Fruit is fleshy, wet, and full of energy for the animal Seed is heavily protected so to survive trip through the animal’s digestive system; animal waste acts as fertilizer for soil seed grows in Seed may have spines/hooks that catch the animal’s fur Touch sensitive explosions

Seed Germination After a seed as dispersed to a new area, if the area is suitable to the seed, the seed will germinate (grow into a plant) What is the first thing a seed needs? Water What part of the plant must grow first then? The root; which come from the radicle (seed root) Water is absorbed and taken to the seed which causes the activation of enzymes. What enzymes would we need to get energy to grow? Amylase  break down starch food store; energy/cellulose Protease  break down protein food store; amino acids for new cells Lipase  break down fat food store; energy

The Steps of Germination 1)Seed grows radicle downward and absorbs water 2)Water activates enzymes that breakdown the food store to provide energy/nutrients for growth 3)Radicle grows larger to absorb more nutrients from the soil 4)Plumule (first shoot) grows upward to break through the top of the soil 5)Plumule slowly opens up first leaves (from cotyledons) and photosynthesis starts 6)Energy from seed run out, but photosynthesis powers the rapid growth of the rest of the plant What factors will influence germination success: Nutrients/Water in soil Depth of seed in soil Looseness of soil; need oxygen for aerobic reactions Temperature of environment Radicle Food Store Plumule Cotyledon Leaves Cotyledon Plumule

Measuring Growth What type of division powers plant growth? Mitosis Where in the plant would mitosis be best seen? Tips of the roots and shoots What are the two ways we can measure the growth of a plant? Weight the Wet Mass or the Dry Mass Wet Mass  weigh the plant as is (subtract the weight of the soil) Dry Mass  dry the plant in an oven to remove all the water and then weigh it; plant dies Which is more accurate measure of growth? Dry mass; amount of water can fluctuate Growth is the increase in size/weight caused by the bio-material (not water) in an organism