1. The World of Plants Growing Plants G Davidson

2. Structure of a seed In order to reproduce, flowering plants produce seeds. Seeds contain nearly everything required to start the growth of a new plant. A seed is made up of the embryo, a food supply (endosperm), both enclosed in a tough seed coat (testa). Testa Embryo Plumule Radicle

3. Germination Seeds can survive for many years in the ground. They appear to be dead. When conditions are suitable they burst into life and start the growth of a new plant. This is called germination.

4. Germination What is needed for germination to be successful? Germination Oxygen?? Light?? Water?? Soil??Heat?? How do we find out??Investigate!!

5. Investigation When setting up an investigation we need to change something and this is called a ‘variable’ We start by setting up the basic apparatus In this case it will look like this: Cotton wool Seeds Boiling tube

6. Investigation Our variables will be: Water Light Heat Oxygen So we now want our investigation to be 5 boiling tubes 1. No light 2. No water 3. No heat 4. No oxygen 5. Everything (the “control”)

7. Germination So, just what do seeds need for germination? Water Oxygen Minimum temperature

8. Structure of a Flower Sexual reproduction occurs in plants as well as animals. The FLOWER contains the reproductive organs of a plant. Flowers of different plants may not be exactly alike, but they are built to the same basic plan.

9. Structure of a Flower

11. Structure of a flower Pollen is made inside the anthers. When they ripen the pollen is released. Pollen grains are like specks of dust. They contain the MALE sex cell. This has to reach the egg cell (ovule) in the ovary.

12. Pollination Pollination Pollination is the “transfer” of pollen from the anthers of one plant to the stigma of another.

13. Pollination Most flowers rely on either the wind or insects to transfer their pollen It is often easy to tell the method of pollination used by a flower by its appearance. Insect pollinated flowers use animals such as bees, butterflies, birds & bats. Wind pollinated flowers have structures which make use of the wind.

14. Methods of Pollination Insect pollinationWind pollination Have a scentNo scent Sticky, spiky pollenLarge amounts of light pollen Sticky stigma inside flower Feathery stigmas hang outside the flower Stamens surrounded by petals Large stamens hang outside flower Produce nectarDon’t produce nectar Petals large & brightPetals small & dull

15. Insect pollination e.g. Passion flower

16. Wind Pollination e.g. Sedge

17. Fertilisation Once the pollen has landed on the stigma the male sex cell inside has to get to the female sex cell. To do this it has to grow a pollen tube down through the style. The stigma produces a sugary fluid to feed the growing pollen tube.

18. Fruit Formation After fertilisation the fertilised ovule becomes the seed The ovary develops into the fruit The fruits can help in seed dispersal depending on what kind of fruit they are. There are 2 kinds: 1.Dry fruits – e.g. poppy, lupin, dandelion, sycamore, etc… 2.Flesh fruits – e.g. tomatoes, plums, gooseberries, etc…

19. Seed Dispersal Once fertilisation has taken place, the flower withers and a seed and fruit are formed from the ovary. The seeds must be scattered as far away from the parent plant as possible. This avoids the new plants competing with the parent for vital resources. This “seed dispersal” is achieved in a variety of ways.

20. Animal (external) Seeds can be dispersed by animals. The seed has hooks which catch onto animals’ fur and are transported by the animal until they fall off and hopefully germinate elsewhere. E.g. Burdock

21. Animal (internal) Seeds can also be eaten by animals along with the fruit. The seeds pass through the animal and are deposited in the droppings elsewhere E.g. bramble

22. Wind Dispersal Plants can also use the wind to scatter their seeds and they use different mechanisms to achieve this. E.g. the poppy uses the “pepper pot” method

23. Wind Dispersal Ragwort, dandelions, cotton, etc. use the “parachute” method. Each seed has a number of small feather-like structures to help it float in the wind.

24. Wind Dispersal Some seeds have wings to help them fly in the wind. E.g. sycamore, ash, etc..

25. Explosive Some plants such as peas and gorse use pods which “explode” to fire the seeds away from the parent. As a pod dries, tensions are set up in the wall of the pod eventually causing it to split along two lines of weakness.

26. Plant Life Cycle SEED GERMINATION STEMS & ROOTS FLOWERS POLLINATION

27. Plant Life Cycles All stages involved in plant reproduction take place continually year after year. Some plants can reproduce WITHOUT forming seeds. This is another form of reproduction It only involves one parent No sex cells are involved ASEXUAL It is called ASEXUAL reproduction

28. Plant Life Cycles During asexual reproduction the parent plant produces new cells which eventually separate and become new independent plants. E.g. strawberry, spider plant, etc..

29. Plant Life Cycles The “Mexican Hat” Plant produces plantlets around the edge of the leaves. These eventually fall off and develop into new independent plants.

30. Asexual Reproduction Asexual reproduction is quite common in plants It produces new plants with the same characteristics as the parent. There is no variation If the plant is resistant to a particular disease, then so will the offspring.

31. Asexual Reproduction Plants produced in this way are often found growing in clumps to reduce competition from other plants. Growth occurs very quickly because of available food store. It is successful as it does not involve the vulnerable stages of germination and early seedling growth. CLONE Plants which are all identical, formed in this way are called a CLONE

32. Sexual & Asexual Reproduction AsexualSexual AdvantagesEarly quick growth Reduced competition Variety Seeds dispersed DisadvantagesOvercrowding Quality doesn’t improve & weaknesses passed on Gametes required Limited food store in seeds There are some important differences between these 2 methods of reproduction. Each method has advantages and disadvantages.

33. Artificial Propagation Gardeners make use of a plant’s ability to reproduce asexually by using a method known as artificial propagation. Instead of growing seeds they take a small section of stem, root or leaf and under the right conditions these will grow into a full plant.

34. Taking Cuttings Take a piece 100-150 mm long by snipping (a tip cutting - "a") or by tearing off a side shoot (a heel cutting - "b"). Remove all flowers and buds and all leaves to about half way up the stem.

35. Taking Cuttings Make holes with a pencil or knitting needle in damp, potting mix in a small, clean pot. A suitable mix is a mixture of 75% washed river sand and 25% sieved peat moss (or, preferably, an environmentally-friendly peat alternative such as "Coco Peat"). Slice a small sliver of bark off the bottom 5 mm of tip cuttings ("a") or carefully trim the end of heel cuttings ("b").

36. Taking Cuttings Dip the prepared end of the cutting into a root - promoting hormone powder, blow off the excess, place in the hole in the damp sand to about half its length and press the sand firmly around the cutting. Root-promoting hormones should be kept in a refrigerator when not being used and are also available as liquids or gels. Place the pot of cuttings into a plastic ice- cream container (or similar) with a little damp sand or peat-moss in the bottom, cover with a plastic bag and seal with an elastic band or sticky tape.

37. Grafting

39. Layering