1.

6 Fertilization
 Pollination

fertilization

development of zygote

Formation of seed
 What is zygote?
 In flowering plants, haploid gametes - an egg cell and a sperm cell
fuse to form the first diploid cell - the zygote.

 The zygote is the progenitor stem cell that gives rise to all the
embryonic and post embryonic tissues and organs.

 Unlike animals, both maternal and paternal gene products participate

in the initial development of zygotes in plants.
FORMATION OF SEEDS AND FRUIT (DEVELOPMENT OF
EMBRYO)
 The zygote divides by mitosis to form many cells which differentiate and
become organized into an embryo. The embryo is made up of the following
parts:

a. the plumule (embryonic shoot)

b. the radicle (embryonic root)
c.  one or two cotyledon (seed leaves)      
d. endosperm (they could be absent )

 As the embryo develops, the ovary and the ovules undergo changes and
develop into fruit and seed or seeds respectively.
 The Seed
● The seed is the first stage of the plant life-cycle.
● All seeds contain the following:
1. The embryo.
a. Found in the centre of the seed, the embryo SEED
will develop into the plant. COAT
b. The embryo also contains cotyledons - EMBRYO
these contain starch which is used for
energy until photosynthesis begins.
2. The seed coat.
a. The seed coat is sometimes called the testa.
b. The seed coat will protect the seed before
germination.

7
Endosperm
 tissue that surrounds and nourishes the embryo in the seeds of angiosperms (flowering
plants).

The plumule
 the part of a seed embryo that develops into the shoot bearing the first true leaves of a
plant.

Cotyledon
 the significant part of the embryo found within the seed.

Radicle
 the embryonic root of the plant, which develops into the future root of the plant
Tegmen
 the delicate inner protective layer of a seed

Epicotyl
 which extends above the cotyledon(s), is composed of the shoot apex and leaf
primordia;
 The shoot apex is the growing tip of the plant shoot
 Leaf primordia are groups of cells that will form into new leaves

Hypocotyl
 which is the transition zone between the shoot and root; and the radicle.
SEED
 A seed is defined as the ripen fertilized and developed ovule .

 A seed with one seedling is called monocotyledon e.g. cereals such

as maize, rice, wheat etc.

 Those with two seed leaves are called dicotyledonous plant e.g.
mango, beans.
 Germination
● The process in which a seedling grows into a new plant is called
germination.

In order for seed to germinate, certain conditions are required.

1. Seeds require water to germinate.

2. Seeds require oxygen to germinate.
3. Seeds require warmth to germinate.

12
GERMINATION OF SEEDS
There are two types of germination
a. Epigeal germination: –  This is when the seedling emerging from
the soil carries the cotyledon above the soil surface e.g. dicotyledonous
plant

b. Hypogeal germination: – This is when the seedling emerges from

the soil with the cotyledon left below the soil e.g. monocotyledonous
plant
The process of
germination.

14