Lesson 1: Plant Reproduction

Carbon

backbone of plant life

Pollinization and Fertilization

Reliance to animals for pollen transfer

Vegetative Propagation

Growing from detached asexual part

Wind-Pollinated Plants

Use wind to spread seeds far from the parent plant

Germination

Developing into mature plants that attract pollinators

Why is Plant Reproduction Important

• Creating new generations of plants

• Sexual: genetic variation

• Asexual: plants spread quickly

Selective Breeding

Reproducing sexually selected plants with desirable traits

Tissue Culture

Grows new plants from small tissue samples

Grafting

Technique that joins two plants into one, combining characteristics of both plants

Cloning

Produces genetically identical copies of a parent plant, ensuring consistent traits.

Reproduction

Production of new organisms from their parent plant.

Why Do Plants Reproduce?

• maintain population

• spread to new areas

• adapt to chaing environments

• ensures genetic diversity and/or rapid multiplication

Sexual Reproduction

• Combination of male and female gametes to create offspring with genetic variation.

• Occurs in flowering plants through pollination and fertilzation.

• Slower.

• High genetic diversity

Asexual Reproduction

• Creates offspring that are genetically identical to one parent plant.

• Happens through vegetative propagation.

• Faster.

• Little to no diversity, identiacl to parent

Flowers

Part of the plant that contains both female and male reproductive parts, which help produce and transfer pollen for fertilization.

Attractors

Nectar, Bright Petals, Scent

Male

Stamen

Female

Carpel

Male Structure

Anther and fillament

Female Structure

Ovary, Ovule, Style, Stigma

Pollination

Process of pollen being transferred from the anther to the stigma of the flower

Self-Pollination

Pollen lands on the stigma of the same plant’s flower

Cross-Pollination

Pollen from one plants lands on the stigma of another plant’s flower

After Fertilization

• Grows a pollen tube

• Male gametes reach for female gametes inside ovule

• Ovule develops into a seed, and Ovary develops into a fruit

Bulb

Garlic, Shallot, Onion

Corm

Taro

Rhizome

Ginger, turmeric, asparagus

Tuber

Underground storage structure, contains nutrients to support growth

Potato

Runner

Long, horizontal stems that grow above the ground.

Strawberry, spider plant

Cuttings

Taking a piece of the parent plant and allowing it to grow into a new plant.

How Do Plants Reproduce Without Seeds?

Using roots, stems, and leaves

Both Reproduction Methods

• Maximizing the chance of survival

• Strawberries, Crocuses, many trees

Supports Ecosystems

• Maintains ecosystems

• Helps sustain biodiversity

• Provide food and shelter for various animals

Farmer Importance

• Determines crop yield and quantity

• Diversity helps resist diseases and adapt to environmental changes

• Maintaining consistent quality

• Benefits global food supply