SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN

FLOWERING PLANTS
PRE FERTILIZATION – STRUCTURE AND
EVENTS
MICROSPOROGENESIS- PROCESS OF FORMATION
OF MICROSPORE (POLLEN)
STRUCTURE OF A MICROSPORE
 SPOROPOLLENIN
CELLULOS
E +
PECTIN

POLLEN TUBE FORMATION OCCURS AFTER POLLINATION OR POLLEN TRANSFER TO STIGMA

 POLLEN GRAINS

Pollen grain causes severe allergies and

bronchial disturbances leading to asthma
and bronchitis.

Viability of Pollen Grains :

1) Rice for 30 min.
2) Leguminous for months.

Parthenium sp (carrot grass) is a weak and

major cause of pollen allergy.
USES OF POLLEN GRAINS :

Rich in nutrients and pollen tablets used as a

food supplement

Pollen Banks :
Storing pollen in liquid nitrogen (-196 C) of different species.
Used in crop breeding programme.
 Monocarpellary-Single pistil Multicarpellary-Many pistil.
2 TYPES
 i)Apocarps - Pistils free
ii) Syncarpous - Pistils fused

THE PISTIL/GYNOECIUM :
MEGASPOROGENESIS- PROCESS OF FORMATION OF MEGASPORES (EGG) FROM
MEGASPORE MOTHER CELL (MMC).
 MEIO
SIS

ANY ONE OF THE NUCELLAR CELLS CAN ACT AS THE MMC

(2n)WHICH UNDERGOES MEIOSIS
 POLLINATION

AUTOGAMOUS –Transfer of pollen grain within the same flower.

Chasmogamous: Flowers which open up to expose anther .

Cleistogamous: Flowers don’t open up at all.

Obligatory self-pollination with no dependence on Pollinators.

Commelina sp AND Oxalis sp have both types of flowers.

OXALIS
 XENOGAMY

GEITONOGAMY – Transfer of pollen from a flower to stigma of another flower

of the same plant. Genetically similar. Effect same as autogamy.

XENOGAMY- Transfer of pollen to the flower of a different plant. Genetically

different.
PLANT A

PLANT A
PLANT A PLANT B
 AGENTS OF POLLINATION

WIND POLLINATED PLANTS

(i) Pollen light and non-sticky

(ii) Exposed and exerted stamens and stigma.

(iii) Large feathery stigma.

(iv) Packed inflorescence.

INSECT POLLINATED

1) Large colourful , have

fragment and nectar.

2) Small flowers clustered

in a branch.
ANIMAL ATTRACTING FEATURE
1) Foul smell attracts insects

2) Nector and pollen act as reward.

Examples of Interdependence of plants and

animals.
Amorphophallus sp 6ft huge flower provides place
for laying eggs.

Yucca sp& SP OF MOTH: The moth carriers

pollen and deposit it in the ovary along with layer
eggs. The larvae of the moth feed on a portion of
the developing seeds.
WATER POLLINATED

(POLLEN GRAINS COVERED BY

MUCILAGE.)

Vallisneria:
The flowers reaches surface by
elongation of the stalk. Male
flower are released and reaches
surface of water. Enters into
depression created by female
flower and transfer pollen.
 SEA
GRASS/ZOSTERA:

Female flowers are present below

surface of water. Pollen grain released
within water and are ribbon like and
intertwine the female flowers and
release pollen
OUTBREEDING DEVICES
To stop self-pollination as it may cause
inbreeding depression.
1) Pollen released before stigma become receptive.

2)Stigma becomes receptive before maturation of pollen.

3) Anther and stigma placed in different heights.

4) Genetic mechanism of self-incompatibility.

5) Unisexual flowers.
POLLEN PISTIL INTERACTION:
CHEMICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN POLLEN
AND PISTIL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF POLLEN.
ARTIFICIAL
HYBRIDISATION:
1) Emasculation: Removal of
anther from a bisexual plant a)
Forceps method b) hot water c)
alcohol method.

2) Bagging: Covering the flower to

prevent unwanted contamination.

3) When stigma become receptive

mature pollens from desired male
parent in dusted and plant re
bagged
DOUBLE FERTILIZATION
 PEN (3n) Primary
Endosperm Nucleus
(Triple Fusion
Product)

n +n =2n
Secondary 2nd male
fusion nucleus + gamete
(n)

1 male
n + gamete
(n)
Infant
plant
Zygote
(2n) embryo
2n

3n
 POST FERTILISATION
CHANGES:

1) ENDOSPERM FORMATION
FREE NUCLEAR TYPE :
The PEN undergoes successive mitotic
nuclear division to form many free
nuclei. Later on cell formation may take
place. (cellular type)

EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT:
Zygote – Pre-embryo – heart shaped
mature embryo.
 Embryo axis

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DICOT AND MONOCOT

EMBRYO
 endosperm

cotyledon
NON ALBUMINOUS SEEDS: NO RESIDUAL ENDOSPERM TOTALLY CONSUMED
DURING EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT.

ALBUMINOUS SEED : RETAIN PART OF ENDOSPERM, NOT COMPLETELY

USED UPDURING EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT (WHEAT)
Perisperm:
In some seeds e.g. black pepper remnants of nucleus.
TRUE FRUIT: FRUIT DEVELOP FROM OVARY, PUMPKIN.

FALSE FRUIT: EX APPLE. THE THALAMUS IS THE EDIBLE

PORTION WHICH IS NOT A PART OF OVARY.
PARTHENOCARPIC FRUITS: Fruits developing with fertilisation.
 Lupinus Phoenix

EXAMPLE OF SEEDS REMAINING VIABLE FOR A LONG TIME

1) LUPINUS ARCTICUS
2) PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA
APOMIXES: SEED PRODUCTION WITHOUT FERTILISATION. GRASSES DIPLOID
(2N) EGG CELL IS PRODUCED WITHOUT MEIOSIS – EMBRYO.

HYBRID VARIETIES ARE TARGETED TO MAKE INTO APOMICTIC VARIETIES.

POLYEMBRYONY: SINGLE OVULE/ SEED CONTAINING MANY EMBRYOS.

EX CITRUS & MANGO. NUCELAR CELLS (2N) DIVIDE AND PROTRUDE INTO THE
EMBRYO SAC AND DEVELOP INTO EMBRYOS.