Flowers

Remember …
Three more differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms

4. Angiosperm ovules are protected within an

enclosed structure rather sitting on a modified leaf
5. Double fertilization in the angiosperms produces
a diploid zygote and triploid endosperm nucleus

6. In the angiosperms there are generally

hermaphrodite flowers and cross pollinating (70%).
Wind pollination is typical in the gymnosperms
animal pollination widespread in angiosperms

First some basic naming of parts

 Basic structure of the angiosperm flower
STAMEN CARPEL
(male reproductive part) (female reproductive part)

filament anther stigma style ovary

This is a
hermaphrodite
flower with a
single carpel

OVULE (forms
petal (all petals within ovary)
combined are the
flower’s corolla)

sepal (all sepals

combined are the receptacle
Fig. 31.3, p. 532
flower’s calyx)
Collective nouns that can cause confusion!
Calyx The outer whorl of a flower made up of sepals
that are usually green, and protect the flower
in bud.
Carpel Bears the stigma, and frequently an elongated
style, and encloses the ovules (sometimes gynaecium).
The megasporophyll of the flower
Corolla The collective term for the petals of a flower
Collective nouns that can cause confusion!

Ovary The total of the carpels in a flower is the ovary

Pistil Each separate carpel when there are lots of

them in the ovary
Perianth The floral envelope, it includes the calyx and
corolla.
Stamen The anther and its supporting filament. The
microsporophyll of the flower
4. Angiosperm ovules are protected within an
enclosed structure rather sitting on a modified leaf

Evolution of the pistil

Remember, angeion case – this is how we think it evolved
 Life cycle of Angiosperms

The basic life cycle appears

similar to that of the
Gymnosperms … BUT
mature there is a well developed
sporophyte
seed
receiving system for the pollen
so that the male gametophyte
fertilization DIPLOID
meiosis
(within
meiosis
(within
can penetrate the angion,
HAPLOID anther) ovary)

gametes
(sperm) microspores the female gametophyte has a
(mitosis)
male
more complex structure that
gametes
(eggs) gametophyte megaspores results in an endosperm,
(mitosis) female nutritive material for the
gametophyte embryo
 Overview of cherry life cycle

Flower

Ovule formation

Seedling

Seed
Diploid Stage
Meiosis Double Fertilization Meiosis
Haploid Stage
Pollen
development

Development
of embryo sac
Pollination
 pollen sac (see next slide)
Anther
(cutaway view)
filament How pollen grains
one of the microspore mother
develop and germinate
cells inside a pollen sac
Diploid Stage
Meiosis
Haploid Stage

Meiosis I and II each followed by cytoplasmic

division results in four haploid (n) microspores
Mitosis in a microspore gives a 2 celled, haploid, pollen grain. One cell
will grow to be the pollen tube. The other will produce two sperm nuclei.

pollen tube
Pollen
release
(see next slide)
sperm nuclei stigma
mature male style of carpel Fig. 31.6a, p. 534
gametophyte
Ways in which Angiosperms are different from Gymnosperms

5. Double fertilization in the angiosperms

produces a diploid zygote and triploid endosperm
Somatic cell division involves two
successive steps: mitosis and cytokinesis.
Now, remind me, what is cytokinesis again … ?

In mitosis, the nuclear DNA duplicates

and chromosomes segregates equally
between the two daughter nuclei;
cytokinesis divides these two nuclei and
cytoplasm, including related cytoplasmic
organelles, into two individual cells.
 The fertilization process in Angiosperms

an ovule

ovary cell
seedling wall
(2n) integument
stalk
seed coat How many ovules
seed embryo (2n) in a cherry?
endosperm (3n) ovary (cutaway view)
Diploid Stage
Double Fertilization Meiosis Meiosis I and II each
Haploid Stage followed by
cytoplasmic division
pollen tube 3 megaspores result in 4 haploid
disintigrate megaspores
embryo sac
inside ovule
endosperm Three rounds of mitosis
mother cell integuments with NO
(n + n) CYTOPLASMIC
DIVISION produces a
egg (n)
megaspore with 8
One sperm nucleus to the
egg, one to the Cytoplasmic division then gives 7 cells – haploid nuclei
endosperm mother cell the endosperm mother cell with 2 nuclei Fig. 31.6b, p. 535
 What goes on in the endosperm?
The triploid nucleus divides and the endosperm cell
becomes a supercell with many nuclei and a milky
consistency.

Cyotkinesis forms membranes and walls between

the nuclei and makes the endosperm more solid.

In most dicots the developing embryo moves the

nutrients stored in the endosperm to the cotyledons and
the endosperm is not present in a mature seed.

In moncots the endosperm remains and is used by the

seedling after germination.
Look what happens when
you eat your endosperm!
 Ways in which Angiosperms are different from Gymnosperms
6. In the angiosperms there are generally hermaphrodite flowers
and cross pollinating (70%). Wind pollination is typical in
the gymnosperms animal pollination widespread in
angiosperms
Hermaphrodite: organism with the organs of both sexes.
HERMAPHRODITOS was one of the
EROTES, and a handsome son of
Hermes and Aphrodite. He was loved
by the Nymphe Salmakis who prayed
that she could be with him forever.
The gods, on hearing her prayer,
merged their two forms into one,
forming a being that was both male and
female.
 That should make fertilization easier.
Pollen can fertilize the egg and endosperm
mother cell of the same flower.

Hmm! I’m not so sure that

is such a good idea.

How can self-fertilization be prevented

for hermaphrodite flowers?

[1] Differences in timing of maturity of male and female parts

[2] Incompatibility mechanisms
 Pollen and stigma incompatibility

There can be dozens of alleles of the S-gene. If a pollen grain

has an allele that matches an allele of the stigma upon which it
lands, then the pollen tube fails to grow.

This system prevents self-fertilization AND fertilization

from close relatives.
Pollen Grain Size and Surface Morphology in a Perennial Rye
Grass Hybrid

Rye grass incompatibility

Attempts to hybridize
between particular
varieties resulted in
production of a web-like
substance and
incompatibility
Pollen grain on stigma
Stacey Lacoste

Nucleus of tube cell
Generative cell
Its not just the honey guys!
Lilium pollen
The efficiency of
animal pollination
Pollen is up to 30% protein
Animal pollination is
targeted and so is more
efficient than wind
pollination.
Animal pollinated flowers
generally produce much less
pollen than wind pollinated
flowers.
Pollen is important for
animals – and many animal
pollinated plants do
produce some excess pollen.
http://www.uri.edu/artsci/bio/plant_anatomy/images/153.gif
 Reproduction and diversity of angiosperms
Animal pollination is efficient and associated with the
development of the hermaphrodite reproductive axis

The diversity of flowers represent mechanisms

promoting efficient pollination

Prevention of self-fertilization maintains genetic

variation by promoting cross pollination

Sophistication of the reproductive process enables a

large number of ways reproductive isolation can occur
and so maintains genetic diversity