CHAPTER 38 PLANT REPRODUCTION Sporophyte and gametophyte generations alternate in life cycles of all plants Alternation of generations (sexual

reproduction) in angiosperms haploid (n) and diploid (2n) generations take turns producing each other sporophyte diploid, dominant generation, produces haploid spores by meiosis; spores give rise to haploid male and female gametophytes gametophyte haploid, greatly reduced, completely dependent on parent sporophyte; produces haploid gametes by mitosis (sperm and egg) fertilization occurs when pollen grain, carrying sperm, fuses with egg inside ovary diploid zygote is created divides via mitosis to produce sporophyte; and cycle continues. Male and female gametophytes develop within the anthers and ovaries, respectively, of a sporophyte flower Flower unique reproduction structure of sporophyte pollination via wind (ex. grasses, trees); random process so need lots of pollen pollination via insects or animal pollinators; more common & more reliable Pollination - brings male gametophyte (pollen grain) to a female gametophyte (embryo sac/egg), pollen lands on stigma and fertilization follows Fertilization - pollen grain absorbs moisture and germinates produces pollen tube that grows down style into ovary discharges sperm into embryo sac and fertilizes egg zygote divides and gives rise to embryo embryo grows inside ovule, ovule develops into seed, ovary develops into fruit two sperm enter embryo sac; one fertilizes egg, other combines with different cells to produce endosperm (food-storing tissue of seed) double fertilization prevents endosperm from developing when egg has not been fertilized, prevents waste of nutrients

Pollination & Fertilization

Double fertilization two sperm fuse with two different cells of embryo sac

Seed Development - after fertilization, ovule develops into seed containing an embryo and endosperm endosperm is rich in nutrients, provides embryo with food in final stages of maturation seed dehydrates, embryo stops growing seed becomes dormant, breaks dormancy when conditions are right (ex. water, temp., fire, abrasion in intestinal tract) germination most seeds can last a year or two and still germinate, some last decades, soil is full of nongerminated seeds

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embryo and its food supply are enclosed by a protective seed coat fruit protects enclosed seed(s) and aids in dispersal either as 1) food source for animals or 2) structure for wind dispersal two fruit types: fleshy fruits (apples, oranges) and dry fruits (peas, wheat, rice) fruits ripen about same times seeds mature, controlled by hormones If a flower has not been pollinated, fruit usually does not develop, and entire flower withers and dies seed takes in water (imbibition) expands ruptures seed coat metabolic changes triggered and embryo resumes developing using endosperm & cotyledons (seed leaves) as nutrient source embryonic root emerges curved shoot tip breaks soil light stimulates shoot to straighten 1st true shoot forms cotyledons used up and fall off 1st shoots (leaves) begin photosynthesis light is main cue that tells seedling its broken ground very few seedlings grow to maturity plants produce numbers of seeds plant fragments (cuttings) can grow into an entire plant Meristematic tissues play a key role Many plants are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction Advantages of sexual reproduction: 1) genetic variation evolutionary adaptations production of seeds allows plants to wait until conditions are favorable Advantages of asexual reproduction: 1) allows rapid spread of a well-adapted plant cloned offspring not as fragile as the seedlings of sexual reproduction 2) 2)

Fruit development - ovary develops into fruit adapted for seed dispersal

Germination

Asexual Reproduction - vegetative propagation

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