Reproduction In Plants
Reproduction
the process that makes more of the same kind of an organism
Asexual reproduction
A process resulting in the
production of genetically
identical offspring from one
parent.
Examples of asexual
reproduction:
1. Binary fission in bacteria.
2. Budding in unicellular
yeast fungus, or by spores
in multicellular fungi.
3. Asexual reproduction in
potato tuber (vegetative
reproduction):
Sexual reproduction
A process involving the
fusion of two gametes (sex
cells) to form a zygote, and
the production of offspring
that are genetically
different from each other
1- Pollination:
Transfer of pollen grains from
the anther to the stigma.
2- Fertilization:
male gamete
(pollen nucleus)
fuses with the
female gamete
(ovule nucleus)
3-Seed germination:
 Asexual reproduction in potato tuber
(vegetative reproduction):

Summary of advantages and

disadvantages of asexual reproduction:

Read page 155 of adv. disadv, of asexual repro

 Sexual Reproduction
A process involving the fusion of two gametes (sex cells) to form
a zygote, and the production of offspring that are genetically
different from each other.
Fertilisation: is the fusion of gamete nuclei.
The process of sexual reproduction:

1. Production of sex cells called gametes by meiosis.

2. Meiosis is a nuclear division that produces gametes that carry half
the number of chromosomes found in the parent cell (haploid = n).
3. When two of the gamete fuse (fertilization) they produce a zygote
that carries the correct number of chromosomes as the parent cells
(diploid =2n)
4. The zygote carries DNA or chromosomes from both parents.
5. The zygote then divides by mitosis to grow into a new individual.
6. Offspring are genetically different from each other and from their
parents.
Summary of advantages and disadvantages of sexual
reproduction:
 Gametes
These are sex cells produced by meiosis which reduces the number
of chromosomes to
half the number found in ordinary cells, so that when gametes
fuse together the zygote
will regain the ordinary number of chromosomes
Two different types of gametes; male and female gametes

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants

Structure and function of insect pollinated flowers:
sepals: Green, protect the flower while in
bud.
Petals: Brightly colored to attract insects
for pollination have guide lines to guide
the insects to nectary glands, that make
sugary nectar to feed the insects.
Stamens: Consists of long filament with an anther at the top, anther
produces pollen grains which contain male gametes.
Anther(many): Attached to the end of the filament, Has four pollen
sacs which produce pollen grains when sacs open, pollen grains spread
like fine usually yellow powder.
Carpel (one or more): consists of the ovary with one or many ovules
inside it, and at its top there is the style with stigma at its tip.
Ovule: Contains the female gamete, it is surrounded by many layers
called integument, with a hole called micropyle through which the
pollen tube enters during fertilisation.
stigma: At the top of style, broad, sticky to catch pollen grains.
 Pollinated flower
Insect pollinated flower

Wind pollinated flower Ways

Ways in which the stigmas and anthers of
wind pollinated differ from insect pollinated
flowers:
The stigma of wind pollinated flower is
feathery with large surface area
hanging outside the petals to catch
the pollen grains carried by wind.
The anther is larger to produce larger
number of pollen grains with long
flexible filament and is hanging outside
the petals to be exposed more to
wind.
 1- Pollination
Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma.
Self-pollination: the transfer of pollen grains from the
anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower or
different flower on the same plant
Implication to a species of self-pollination:
1. Less variation.
2. Less chance to adapt to changing conditions, new
environment or new disease, increase risk of extinction.
3. Becoming homozygous, increase chance of genetic
diseases.
4. Less chance of evolution.
5. One plant in isolated area can survive.
6. Insure pollination to occur.
7. variation is only due to mutation
8. Reproduction occurs even if no pollinator is present/ do
not rely on pollinator.
9. Less waste of pollen grains.
10. Variation is only due to mutation.
Cross-pollination: is transfer of pollen grains from the
anther of a flower to the stigma of a flower on a
different plant of the same species
Implication to a species of cross pollination:
1. More variation.
2. More chance to survive changing conditions, new
environment or new disease.
3. More heterozygosis/larger gene pool.
4. More chance of evolution.
5. Rely on pollinator (wind, insects or man).
6. More waste of pollen.
 2-Fertilization:
1. If pollen grains landed on the flower
of the same species, it starts to grow
pollen tube down through a style and
the ovary to reach the ovule.
2. The pollen tube secretes enzymes to
digest its way through.
3. The male gamete travels along the
pollen tube.
4. When the pollen tube reaches the
micropyle in the ovule it bursts open
and male gamete (pollen nucleus) fuses
with the female gamete (ovule nucleus)
5. If there are many ovules in the
ovary, many pollen grains will be needed
to fertilise them.
6. Fertilisation is followed by seed and
fruit formation.

3-Seed germination:
Factors necessary for seed
germination:
1. Water: to activate enzymes.
2. Oxygen: needed for aerobic
respiration to release energy.
3. Suitable temperature: to
provide optimum temperature
to enzymes.
When enzymes are active they
digest starch to maltose and
proteins to
amino acids, these soluble food
diffuse to the embryo and used
for
growth.