1. CHAPTER 8 AGRISCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
REPRODUCING PLANTS
CHAPTER 8
AGRISCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July, 2002

2. TYPES OF PLANT REPRODUCTION
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION - Involves using seed to propagate plants. Flowers are important because they contain the reproductive organs.
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION - Involves reproducing plants by using vegetative parts of the plant. Results in clones (genetically like their parents).

3. KINDS OF SEED
MONOCOT - Plants having seed with one seed leaf, known as a cotyledon. Examples are corn, wheat, rice and all grasses.
DICOT - Plants that have seed with two cotyledon. Examples are tomatoes, beans, petunias and carnations.

4. PARTS OF A BEAN SEED EXTERNAL Seed coat - Outer covering of the seed
Hilum - Where the seed was attached in the pod.
Micropyle - Tiny opening near the seed scar where the pollen entered the ovule to form the seed.

5. PARTS OF A BEAN SEED INTERNAL:
Cotyledons - Bean seed has two; contain food for the embro.
Radicle - Becomes the root system of the plant.
Hypocotyl - Connects the radicle and the cotyledons.
Epicotyl - Forms the stem of the plant.
Plumule - Develops the above-ground part of the plant (embryonic leaves).

6. PARTS OF A MONOCOT SEED: CORN
EXTERNAL:
Seed coat - Protects the embryo.
Seed scar - Where the corn grain was attached to the cob.
Silk scar - Opposite side of the grain from the seed scar.

7. PARTS OF A MONOCOT SEED : CORN
INTERNAL :
Endosperm - Where the food is stored for the embyo.
Radicle - Becomes the root system.
Hypocotyl - Connects the radicle with the food source.
Epicotyl - Forms the stem.
Cotyledon - Does not store food; absorbs food from the endosperm.
Plumule - Develops into leaves.

8. PARTS OF A COMPLETE FLOWER
Sepals - Outer part of the flower; covers the bud and protects it as it develops.
Petals - Located just inside the sepals; attract insects which help with the fertilization process.
Stamens - Male part of the flower; contains an anther that produces pollen, or sperm.
Pistil - Female part of the flower; contains the stigma

9. FLOWERS
PERFECT FLOWERS - Contain the stamen and pistil in the same flower.
IMPERFECT FLOWERS - Flowers that lack either the stamen or pistil.
Exception: Monoecious plants may have both male and female imperfect flowers on them. Corn is an example.

10. POLLINATION
Transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma of a flower of the same species.
Pollen may be moved by wind, insects, birds and other natural means.
Cross-pollination - When two different plants are involved.
Self-pollination - Involves flowers on the same plant.

11. TYPES OF FRUIT
FLESHY FRUIT - Have large fibrous structures surrounding the seed; apples, pears, blackberries, oranges and grapes are examples.
DRY FRUIT - Fruit develops as a pod or in a hull; beans, peas, peanuts and cotton are examples of dry fruit. Pecans, acorns, corn, oats, wheat, elm trees are examples of hulls.

12. GERMINATION TESTING
When a number of seeds sprout out of a set amount is called a germination test.
Helps in determining the number of seeds to plant.
Soil is the most widely growing medium; however greenhouses usually use “artificial” media.

13. CONDITIONS FOR SEED GERMINATION
MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
MOISTURE
TEMPERATURE
OXYGEN

14. BENEFITS OF VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION
True traits of parents - Assures that the new plant is identical to its parents.
No seed - Some plants do not produce seed: an example is seedless grapes.

15. EXAMPLES OF VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION USING BELOW GROUND PARTS
Potatoes are cut into sections with buds (eyes) and planted.
Bulbs or corms are planted; multiply and new bulbs are pulled apart and planted separately.

16. METHODS OF ABOVE GROUND PROPAGATION
LAYERING - Involves getting roots to grow from the stems of plants
CUTTING - Involves using a short section of plant stem for propagation.
BUDDING - Involves taking a bud from one plant and moving it to another.
GRAFTING - Involves placing a section of the stem of one plant onto another plant.

17. QUALITIES OF GOOD SEED Purity - Contains only seed intended.
Contamination - Free of trash
Percent germination - Should be %
Uniformity - Same size and shape
Damage - Seed coats should not be cracked
Free of disease - Healthy
Treatment - Treated to prevent disease
Reputation of grower and dealer