9.4 (Reproduction in plants)

Fertilization

the action or process of fertilizing an egg or a female animal or plant, involving the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Flowering

the process of producing conspicuous flowers.

Mutualistic relationship

an association between organisms of two different species in which each member benefits.

Pollination

the process of transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant.

Shoot apex

the tip of a shoot, the apical or lateral shoot meristematic dome together with the leaf primordial, from which emerge the leaves and sub-adjacent stem tissue.

pollen

a multicellular structure containing one or two sperm, male sex cells

Angiosperms

Flowering plants that use sperm-bearing pollen, flowers and seeds to produce offspring and disperse them to new areas

'long-day' plants

develop flowers when phytochromes detect a period of darkness shorter than a critical length.

'short-day' plants

develop flowers when phytochromes detect a period of darkness longer than a critical length

fruit (in scientific term)

Any plant structure containing seeds (ex: bell pepper, aubergine (eggplant) and tomato)

Pistil​ (carpel)

the female part of the flower, made up of the stigma, style and ovary, with the ovary containing the ovule or ovules

Stigma

sticky area at the tip of the pistil where pollen grains are deposited

Style

stalk that supports the stigma and connects it to the ovary; the pollen tube grows through the style to allow sperm to reach the egg

Ovary

the base of the style, containing one or more ovules; in most species it develops into the fruit.

Ovule

contains an egg (female gamete) and, after fertilisation, develops into a seed

Stamen

the male part of the flower, made up of the anther and filament

Anther

part of the stamen that produces pollen

Petals

structures surrounding the reproductive parts of the flower; evolved from leaves and often coloured to attract pollinators by contrasting strongly with green leaves

Sepals

structures that enclose and protect the developing flower bud; they are found beneath the petals and may offer support when the flower is in bloom; they are often green but are brightly coloured in some species
Dictionary

Radicle

an embryonic root

Plumule

an embryonic shoot

Hypocotyl

a shoot above the root and below the cotyledons

Cotyledons

modified leaves that store food for the embryo

Testa

a seed coat that protects the embryo and food stores

Hilum

a scar where the seed was attached to the ovary

Micropyle

a small pore above the hilum where the pollen tube entered to allow fertilisation.

Dictionary

Seed dispersal

transport of seeds to new locations
Major vectors are wind, water and animals

three requirements for germination for all seeds:

water, oxygen, temperature