Questions and Answers
What is the main function of the sepal in a flower?
During which stage of the plant life cycle does meiosis occur to produce spores?
What primary process occurs when a male gamete fuses with a female gamete?
Which structure in the flower is responsible for pollen production?
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What is the haploid stage in the life cycle of a flowering plant called?
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Which statement correctly describes a characteristic of asexual reproduction?
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What is a defining feature of sexual reproduction?
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What is phototropism?
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What role do auxins play in plants?
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Which of the following plants is commonly recognized as a family member of the sunflower genus?
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What is the primary advantage of self-pollination in plants?
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In double fertilisation, what happens to the two male gametes?
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Which of the following is NOT an adaptation of wind-pollinated flowers?
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What role does dormancy play in a plant's life cycle?
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Which method of seed dispersal involves animals as a primary agent?
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Study Notes
Plant Reproduction
- Flowering plants have a life cycle with two main stages: sporophyte (diploid) and gametophyte (haploid).
- Sporophytes produce spores through meiosis while gametophytes produce male and female gametes.
Flower Structure and Functions
- Sepal: Provides protection to the flower.
- Petal: Brightly colored to attract insect pollinators via color and fragrance.
- Stamen: Male reproductive organ producing male gametes.
- Filament: Thin stalk that supplies food and water to the anther.
- Anther: Sac-like structure that produces pollen through meiosis.
- Stigma: Receives pollen and is located at the top of the carpel.
- Ovary: Site of fertilization.
- Carpel: Female reproductive organ of the flower.
Fertilization Process
- Development begins from a zygote (fertilized egg), which forms into a sporophyte with roots and shoots.
- Male gametes fuse with female gametes to create a diploid zygote.
- Pollination occurs when pollen from an anther lands on the stigma of another flower.
- Sufficient pollination is essential for sexual reproduction, seed, and fruit formation as well as genetic variation.
Double Fertilization
- After pollination, the tube nucleus travels down the style to the micropyle in the ovary, dividing by mitosis to create two male gametes.
- One male gamete fuses with the egg, while the other fuses with polar nuclei to form endosperm for nourishment.
Pollination Methods
- Self-pollination: Pollen transfers from anther to stigma on the same plant; guarantees reproduction but reduces genetic variation.
- Cross-pollination: Pollen moves between different plants of the same species; promotes genetic diversity.
Adaptations of Pollination
- Wind-pollinated flowers: Long stamens, feathery stigmas, large amounts of light pollen, minimal color or scent.
- Insect-pollinated flowers: Bright petals and unique shapes attract pollinators; sticky pollen aids collection.
Seed Dispersal Methods
- Wind: Example - sycamore.
- Animal: Example - burdock seeds attach to fur.
- Self-dispersal: Example - pea plants explode their pods.
- Water: Example - seeds can float and disperse via water.
Dormancy and Vegetative Propagation
- Dormancy: Temporary growth pause to ensure survival during adverse conditions like winter.
- Vegetative propagation: Asexual reproduction without gametes; involves a single parent, rapid process, and produces identical offspring.
Root Tubers and Artificial Propagation
- Root tubers remain dormant and can grow new plants once conditions improve.
- Cuttings are portions removed from a parent plant and grown into new, independent plants.
Tropisms in Plants
- Tropism: Directional growth response to environmental stimuli, e.g., light or gravity.
- Phototropism: Stems grow toward light for optimal photosynthesis.
- Geotropism: Roots grow down towards gravity, and shoots grow up against gravity.
Auxins
- Auxins are plant hormones that regulate growth and response to stimuli.
Plant Families
- Various plants, such as buttercup, daisy, violet, pansy, nettle, and sunflower, are identified by their Latin names.
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Description
Explore the fascinating life cycle of flowering plants, focusing on the sporophyte and gametophyte stages. Learn about the parts of flowers and their functions, including how sepal and petal structures contribute to reproduction. Test your knowledge about these fundamental concepts in plant biology.
