Reproduction in plants

Sexual reproduction

 Takes place by fusion of gametes

 Takes place in flowers of plants
 Flowers are important in the sexual reproduction of plants. They produce male sex cells
(pollen grains) and female sex cells (contained in the ovules). These must meet for
reproduction to begin - a process called pollination.

General parts of flowers

 Flower can occur singly in plant or cluster called inflorescences

Following are parts of complete flower

 Pedicle
 A flower stalk is called pedicle
 Flower without pedicel are called sessile flowers

 Receptacle

 the receptacle is the enlarged end of flower stalk from which the flower organs grow.
 It bears other parts of flower

 Sepals
 Modified leaves that encloses and protects other parts of leaves in bud stage (when it is
unopened)
  Sepals together make calyx
 Forms outer most whorl in floral plants
 Whorl: (in a flower) each of the sets of organs, especially the petals and sepals,
arranged concentrically round the receptacle.

 Some flowers have another whorl of floral leaves outside sepal which makes epicalyx of
flower
 E.g.: hibiscus
 Petals

 Petals are modified leaves forming the conspicuous parts of flower

 Brightly coloured in insect pollinated flowers
 They form corolla of flower (petals= corolla)

Functions:

 They are brightly coloured to attract insects

 Provide landing platform for insects

 Stamen
 Androecium is collective name for stamen of flower
 They produce pollen grains
 It is male part of flower and comprises of anther bearing on filament
 It consists of two lobes each consisting of two pollen sacs which contains pollen grains
 Pollen grain contains haploid number of chromosomes and are produced by miosis
 Pollen contain male sex gametes or sex cells
 When anther matures it two lobes split setting free pollen grains
 Pistil (gynoecium)
 The pistil or gynoecium is the female part of flower
 It consists of one or more units called carpels.
 Carpel consists of an ovary, a style and one or more stigmas
 Stigma is swollen structure at end of style which receives pollen grains
 The ovary contains one or more ovules
 Within each mature ovule is female gamete called ovum
 The region in the ovary to which ovules are attaches is called placenta
 The ovule is attached to placenta by funicle
Types of flowers

 Incomplete flowers: flowers that do not have all the four whorls of floral parts i.e. sepal,
petal, androecium and gynoecium

 Complete flowers: flowers that have all the four whorls of floral parts i.e. sepal, petal,
androecium and gynoecium

 Bisexual flower: flower that possess both stamen and pistil

 Unisexual flower: flower that has either stamen or pistils
 Monoecious: plant that possess both possess both male and female unisexual flowers e.g.:
maize
  Dioecious: plant in which male and female flowers are borne on separate plants e.g. papaya

Regular or radially symmetrical: flowers that can be divided into two equal halves along more than
on longitudinal plane
Bilaterally symmetrical: flowers which can be halved along one longitudinal plane are described as
bilaterally symmetrical

 A superior ovary is an ovary attached to the receptacle above the attachment of other floral
parts
 In some flowers the receptacle grows upwards enclosing the ovary completely. The other
floral parts arise from the receptacle above the ovary which is said to be inferior
 Pollination

 Pollination is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to
the female stigma.
 Self-pollination: when pollen grains are transferred to stigma of the same
flower or different flower in same plant

cross-pollination. The transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ (an anther or a
male cone) of one plant to the female reproductive organ (a stigma or a female cone) of
another plant. Insects and wind are the main agents of cross-pollination.
Advantages of cross pollination

Cross pollination has certain advantages

 Offspring produced may have valuable qualities from both parents

 Abundant and viable seeds tend to produce
 More varieties of offspring can be produced, there is greater genetic variability. This
increases the chance of survival of the species during changes in environment.
Special devices in plants favouring cross pollination
cross pollination by insects

Cross pollination by wind

Characteristics of insect pollinated flower

 Flowers are usually large, brightly coloured and scented to attract insects
 Nectar is often present
 Pollen is fairly abundant; pollen grains are large and sticky usually with rough surfaces so
they can readily cling on to insect’s body
 Anthers may not be pendulous. They are present inside flower, stiff and firmly attached to
brush against insects
 Stigmas are usually small and compact, not feathery and do not protrude. They are sticky so
pollen settled on them are not easily displaced
 Marking or nectar guides may be seen on petals to guide insects towards nectar
Characteristics of wind pollinated flowers

 Flowers are usually small, dull-coloured and scentless and thus not attractive to insects
 Nectar is usually absent
 Pollen is abundant. As the pollen grains are small, dry, smooth and light, they are buoyant
and easily blown by air
 Stamens have long slender filaments that sway in slightest wind and anthers are present
outside the flower. Due to movement pollen grain are shaken of anthers
 Stigmas protrude and are large and feathery so that they provide a large surface area to
catch pollen floating in the air
 Bracts are sometimes present