Plant reproduction

Artificial vegetative propagation

The process of making new plants in a laboratory from a part of the parent plant, where the offspring is genetically identical to the parent plant

Asexual reproduction

Produces plants that are genetically identical to the parent plant because no mixing of male and female gametes takes place. No cones, seeds or flowers are needed

Budding

A type of asexual reproduction in which a new organism develops from an outgrowth or bud to cell division at one particular site

Bulb

A specialised, rounded, underground organ of certain plants that acts as a storage structure for food reserves and a bud for new growth

Clone plants

A group of plants that are genetically identical to each other, derived from a single parent plant through asexual reproduction

Corm

A swollen, underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ, primarily for carbs like starch, to help the plant survive unfavourable conditions like winter or drought

Cuttings

A plant section originating from the stem, leaf or root and capable of developing into a new plant that is a clone of the original plant

Fragmentation

Fragmentation is a very common type of vegetative reproduction in plants. Fragmentation occurs when a shoot that is rooted becomes detached from the main group

Genetically modified

Plants that have had their dna changed using genetic engineering techniques to produce more fruit or seeds, resist disease or drought

Graft

The joining together of plant parts by means of tissue regeneration. Grafting is the act of placing a portion of one plant into or on a stem, root or branch of another in such a way that a union will be formed and the partners will continue to grow

Horticulture

Branch of agriculture concerned with growing plants that are used by people for food, for medicinal purposes and for aesthetic gratification

Meristem shots

The centre of active mitotic cell division where plant growth occurs

Micro propergation

Method of plant propagation using extremely small pieces of plant tissues taken from a carefully chosen and prepared mother plant and growing these under laboratory conditions to produce new plants. It is widely used in commercial.

Natural vegetative propagation

The process of making new plants in nature from a part of the parent plant, where the offspring is genetically identical to the parent plant

Plantlet

Small new plant identical to the parent plant found at the end of a runner

Rhizomal growth

An underground plant stem capable of producing the shoot and root systems of a new plant, which are used to store starches and proteins and enable plants to perennate underground

Rooting powder

Contains a chemical that is applied to a plant cutting to encourage root growth and increase the propagation success rate

Runner

Horizontal stems that grow above the ground sideways out of the parent plant and touch the ground and form a root. They may stay connected to the parent plant

Spore formation

A form of reproduction one bcin the reproductive bodes called the spores are present in a sac called the sporangia and are reproductive units or cells that germinate or develop into new individuals without fission with other reproductive cells

Stock

The lower pare of a graft, typically, a stem or a tooth

Stolon

It’s a form of vegetative reproduction, where new plants can sprout from the nodes along the stolon

Terminal bud

A biological structure found at the top of plants stem or branch that contains embryonic tissue and is responsible for the plants primary growth, leading to an increase in stem length

Tuberous roots

An enlarged fleshy root modified as a storage organ with shoots produced at one end and roots produced at the other

Weaning

The process of acclimatisation of a plant from vessels in a lab for a green house

Anther

Upper part of stamen containing pollen grains, which will become sperm

Artificial pollination

A process where humans interfere with natural pollination processes

Bird pollination

Brightly- coloured, odourless flowers that are open during the day are pollinated by birds who seek the energy-rich nectar and the pollen is deposited on the birds head and neck and is then transferred to the next flower it visits

Bisexual flowers

Contain stamens and pistil

Central nuclei

In the female gametophyte two of the nuclei (the polar nuclei) move to the center of the embryo sac and fuse together, forming a single, diploid central cell.

Concentric circles

Two or more circles that share a common center or midpoint but have different radii

Cross pollination

Type of pollination in which sperm madden pollen grains are transferred from the lowers of one plant to egg breaking flowers of another. Cross pollination facilitates cross fertilisation and outbreeding

Double fertilization

A unique reproductive process in flowering plants where two sperm cells from a pollen grain fuse with two different structures within the ovule. One sperm fertilises the egg cell, forming a diploid zygote, while the other fuses with two polar nuclei in the central cell to form a tripled endosperm

Endosperm

A crucial tussle within seeds of flowering plants that provides nourishment to the developing embryo. It is formed when the diploid nuclei fuse with a sperm cell to form the triplpid endosperm tissue

Female unseal flowers

Contains pistils only

Fertilization

Fusion of the male and female sex cell

Filament

Stalk that carriers anther and its length can vary from flower to flower

Fruit

The mature ripened salivary of a flowering plant containing the seeds

Germination

Process that occurs when seeds starts to grow, producing a root and stem with two leaves

Inflorescence

The arrangement of flowers on a plants stem or branches. The specific arrangement of flowers within an inflorescence can significantly impact a plants reproductive success by influencing pollination and seed dispersal

Infructescence

The ensemble of fruits derived from the ovaries of an inflorescence

Insect pollination

Pollination facilitated by invertebrate pollinators such as bees and wasps, butterflies and moths, flies and beetles

Male unisexual flowers

Contain stamens only

Mammal pollination

The flowers are usually large and white or pale coloured so that they can be distinguished from their dark surroundings at night. The flowers have a strong, fruity or musky fragrance and produce large amounts of nectars. They are naturally large and wide mouthed to accommodate the head of the bat. As the bats seeks the nectar, their faces and heads become covered with pollen, which is then transferred to the next flower.

Nectar guides

Patterns on the petals of flowers that guides insects to the nectar

Nectar

Sweet viscous secretion from the nectaries or glands in plant blossoms stems or leaves

Ovary

Bottom part of the pistil that contains ovules

Ovules

Plant structure that develops into a seed when fertilized

Perduncle

Stalk supporting an inflorescence or a solitary flower or after fecundation an infructescence or a solitary fruit

Petals

Coloured part of a flower that can be fused or separate

Pistil

Female part of the flower

Pollen tube

Has a purpose to deliver sperm cells to the female gametophyte for double fertilization. Essentially it is a threadlike structure spanning from the pollen shell toward the tip

Pollen

Fine powdery substance consisting of pollen grains that is produced by the male part of the flower

Pollination

The transfer of pollen from the male to the female parts of a flower

Pollinators

Organisms that carry pollen from 1 flower to another

Self pollination

Occurs when the pollen from the anther is deposited on the stigma of the same flower, or another flower on the same plant

Sepals

Protect and enclose the other 3 whorls while the flower is developing

Stamens

Male part of the flower

Stigma

Nodule at the tip of the style that is sticky and receives the pollen

Tube cell nucleus

A nucleus within a pollen grain that plays a crucial role in guiding the growth of the pollen tube towards the ovule

Whorls

Different layers of the flower arranged in concentric circles

Wind pollination

Wind transfer of pollen grains from the stamens to the ovule bearing organs of to the ovules themselves. Most food crops are wind pollinated

Zygote

Fertilised egg cell