biol midterm, plant reproduction

anther

The male reproductive part of a flower that produces and contains pollen. It is typically located at the top of the stamen.

microsporangium

A structure in the anther where pollen grains are developed and mature, consisting of diploid cells that undergo meiosis to form haploid microspores.

microsporocyte

A diploid cell in the microsporangium that undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid microspores, which develop into pollen grains.

microspore

A haploid cell produced from a microsporocyte after meiosis, which develops into a pollen grain.

microscpore

A haploid reproductive cell that develops into a pollen grain after being produced from a microsporocyte. It plays a crucial role in the fertilization process of seed plants.

microgametophyte

The haploid stage in plant reproduction that develops from a microspore and eventually produces male gametes (sperm) in seed plants.

tube nucleus

The part of the pollen grain that controls the growth of the pollen tube, facilitating the delivery of sperm cells to the ovule during fertilization.

pollen tube

A structure formed by a pollen grain that grows through the style towards the ovule, allowing sperm to reach the egg for fertilization in seed plants.

generative cell

A cell in the pollen grain that divides to form two sperm cells, playing a crucial role in the fertilization process of seed plants.

sperm 1 and 2

The two reproductive cells produced by the generative cell of the pollen grain, involved in fertilizing the egg and synergids in the ovule.

carpel to fruit

The transformation process where the carpel, comprising the stigma, style, and ovary, develops into a fruit following fertilization, enclosing the seeds.

stigma

The pollen-receptive part of the carpel, located at the top of the style, where pollen grains attach and germinate.

style

The slender stalk of the carpel that connects the stigma and the ovary, playing a crucial role in supporting the stigma and facilitating pollen tube growth during fertilization.

ovary

The enlarged basal part of the carpel that contains the ovules and develops into fruit after fertilization.

ovule

The structure within the ovary that houses the female gametes and develops into seeds after fertilization.

megasporangium

A structure in seed plants that produces megaspores through meiosis, which develop into female gametophytes.

megasporocyte

A diploid cell in the megasporangium that undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid megaspores, which develop into female gametophytes.

megaspore

A haploid spore produced by the megasporangium in seed plants, which develops into the female gametophyte.

dicot seed

A type of seed that contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons, commonly found in flowering plants.

seed coat

The protective outer layer of a seed that prevents desiccation and provides mechanical protection.

epicotyl

The part of a seedling that develops above the cotyledons and forms the stem and leaves.

hypocotyl

The region of a seedling that lies below the cotyledons and connects them to the root system.

radicle

The part of a seed that develops into the primary root of the plant.

cotyledons

The first leaves that appear on a seedling, often containing stored nutrients to support initial growth.

monocot seed

A type of seed that has one cotyledon, typically exhibiting parallel leaf venation and a fibrous root system in the mature plant.

scutellum

The specialized cotyledon found in monocot seeds that absorbs nutrients from the endosperm and provides nourishment to the growing seedling.

endosperm

The tissue produced inside the seeds of flowering plants that provides nourishment to the developing embryo. It is usually rich in starches and proteins.

epicotyl

The part of a seedling that develops into the stem above the cotyledons, responsible for supporting the leaves and connecting them to the root system.

coleptile

The protective sheath covering the emerging shoot in monocot seeds, guiding it as it grows upward through the soil.

coleorhiza

The protective sheath that covers the radicle of a germinating monocot seed, helping to anchor the seedling and protect the roots as they grow into the soil.

signal reception

The process by which plants detect and respond to environmental stimuli through receptors that initiate physiological changes.

signal transduction

The series of processes and mechanisms through which a plant converts external signals into a physiological response, often involving cascades of molecular events.

response

The physiological or developmental changes in a plant as a result of a stimulus after signal transduction, affecting growth, movement, or other functions.

receptor

A protein or molecular structure in plants that detects specific stimuli, initiating the signal reception process and leading to a physiological response.

plant hormones

Chemicals produced by plants that regulate various physiological processes, including growth, development, and responses to stimuli.

phototropism

The growth response of a plant toward light, facilitated by plant hormones such as auxins that redistribute to promote growth on the side receiving less light.

action spectrum

A graph that shows the efficiency of different wavelengths of light in driving photosynthesis. It indicates which wavelengths are most effective for plant growth.

darwin and darwin experiments

The series of experiments conducted by Charles and Francis Darwin that investigated the role of light in plant growth and movement, demonstrating that plants bend toward light due to differential growth.

boyesen-jensen experiment

A groundbreaking experiment by plant physiologist Peter Boyesen-Jensen that demonstrated the role of hormones in plant growth by studying coleoptiles' response to light.

went experiments

A series of experiments conducted by Frits Went that isolated and identified the plant hormone auxin, showing its role in regulating plant growth and responses to light.

auxin

A plant hormone that regulates growth, promoting cell elongation, especially on the side of the plant away from light, thereby influencing phototropism.

photoperiodism

The physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night, particularly in plants, where it affects flowering and other developmental processes.

phytochrome

A photoreceptor in plants that detects light and regulates various physiological processes, including flowering and seed germination, in response to day length.

short day (long night)

A type of photoperiod in which flowering occurs when the light duration is less than a critical length, typically seen in certain plants that bloom in the fall or winter.

long day (short night)

A type of photoperiod in which flowering occurs when the light duration exceeds a critical length, usually observed in plants that bloom in the spring or early summer.