Sexual reproduction in plants

 The plants that have flowers are called flowering plants.

 Most of the plants reproduce by the sexual method- there’s an involvement of male and
female gametes

 Flowers are the reproducing part of the plant.

 The function of a flower is to make male and female gametes and to ensure that
fertilization will take place to make seeds from growing news plants.

 It performs reproduction by producing seeds for the plant.

 Parts of a flower- Calyx-Sepals , Corolla-Petals , androecium-Stamen(Filament,

Anther) ,gynoecium –Pistil(Stigma ,Style ,Ovary)

 The green leaf like parts in the outermost circle of the flower-Sepals
 All the sepals are taken as calyx
 They cover and protect the inner parts of the flower in the bud stage

 Corolla- made of brightly colored petals(lie inside the sepals at the bud stage)

 Main function of petals is to attract insects for pollination and to protect reproductive
parts of the flower(i.e at the center)

 Androecium-male reproductive part, made up of stamens :- anther(contains pollen grains

in the form of yellowish powdery substance) and filament(long ,slender)

 Pollen grains- male gametes

 Gynoecium- female reproductive, innermost whorl, consists of- pistil/carpels

 Pistil-made up of enlarged OVARY[(it contains OVULES:-contains female gametes that
develop into seeds after fertilization+develops into seeds+covering of the ovule alters and
changes into seed coat )OVARY:-swollen end of style+enlarges and converts into fruit],
long slender STYLE (tube that leads from stigma to ovary and helps in the passage of
pollen from the tip of sigma from ovary), broad STIGMA (sticky in nature basically to
attract pollens dispersed in air)

 POLLINATION-transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a stamen to a stigma of a

pistil is known as pollination,

 SELF-POLLINATION-transfer of pollen grains from the stamens produced in a

flower to the stigma of the pistil of the same flower or another flower blooming on the
same plant

 CROSS-POLLINATION-transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower on a

plant to the stigma of a flower of a different plant of the same species.

 POLLINATION BY INSECTS-

 When an insect sits on a flower attracted by the bright petals, fragrance and nectar, the
pollen grains stick on its body.

 When the same insect sits on another flower, the pollen grains gets brushed off on the
stigma of that flower.

 This helps in the transfer of pollen grains from one flower to another and insects help in
carrying out pollination.

CHARACTERISTICS OF INSECT-POLLINATED FLOWERS-

 Large, bright ,colorful petals + scented flowers(fragrance) to attract insects

 Presence of nectar in these flowers which is food for insects hence causing insects to sit
on flowers to suck nectar.
 Production of sticky pollen grains which can easily stick to the bodies of insects

 POLLINATION BY WIND-

 Blowing wind carries pollen grain from one flower to another causing pollination.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WIND-POLLINATED FLOWERS-

 Are not large, not scented, not nectar producing as they do not have to attract insects

 Have anthers and stigmas hanging/protruding outside the flower

 Light-weight pollen grains

 Winged pollen

 High no. of pollen grains produced to increase the accuracy of cross-pollination/increase

the probability of fertilization.

 POLLINATION BY WATER-

 Plants water-pollinated(vallisneria + pond weeds)are usually aquatic but not all aquatic
plants are water-pollinated example Lotus(insect pollinated)

 The pollen floats in water and when they come in contact with the stigma of the female
flower(cross-pollination is usually conducted in mono-sexual plants) then fertilization
takes place.

 Mostly water-pollinated are monosexual

CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER-POLLINATED FLOWERS-

 In water-pollinated plants, male and female flowers are borne on separate plants,
 Pollens are produced in large quantities.
 Flowers are lighter and smaller so that they can easily float on the surface of water
 Pollens are not sticky but are water-resistant

ARTIFICIAL POLLINATION-

 Usually carried out to improve the variety of a particular plant.

 Crops of DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS called PARENT CROPS are selected

 Gynoecium of the flower is kept covered so prevent natural pollination.

 Once the stigma of one crop plant is mature, selected pollen grains from the anther are
placed on these stigmas.

 The seeds produced in this manner processes characteristics of both the crop parents and
this new variety is called as hybrid.

 the hybrid plant produced is of superior quality.

 FERTILISATION-

 After pollen reaches the stigma of another flower of the same species

 It starts to grow by forming a pollen tube

 It travels down the style and reaches the ovary

 In the ovary, pollen tubes release male gametes which fuses with female gametes(present
in ovules ,ovules are present in ovary)