Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants

Mutualism

Both plants and animals benefit from the interaction.

Seed Dispersal

Process where animals transport seeds away from parent plants.

Burdock

Plant species with spiky burs for seed dispersal.

Arctium sp.

Genus name for burdock plants.

Disperser

Animal that helps in spreading plant seeds.

Spiky Burs

Fruits that attach to animal fur for seed transport.

Burs

Microscopic hooks that attach to mammal hairs.

Velcro

Hook-and-loop fastener inspired by burs.

Angiosperms

Most important plants in ecosystems and agriculture.

Mutualism

Interaction benefiting both organisms involved.

Sporophyte

Diploid generation producing spores via meiosis.

Gametophyte

Haploid generation producing gametes by mitosis.

Zygote

Fertilized egg formed from gamete fusion.

Double Fertilization

One sperm fertilizes egg, another forms endosperm.

Carpels

Female reproductive organs of flowers.

Stamens

Male reproductive organs of flowers.

Petals

Brightly colored flower parts attracting pollinators.

Sepals

Leaf-like structures protecting flower buds.

Complete Flowers

Contain all four floral organs.

Incomplete Flowers

Lack one or more floral organs.

Inflorescences

Clusters of flowers on a single stem.

Organ Identity Genes

Regulate floral organ development.

A B C Hypothesis

Explains floral organ formation via gene activity.

Gametophyte Development

Formation of gametophytes from sporophyte tissues.

Embryo Sac

Female gametophyte developing within an ovule.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen to receptive stigma.

Pollen Tube

Structure growing from pollen grain to ovule.

Endosperm

Triploid tissue providing nutrients to the embryo.

Seed Development

Formation of seeds from fertilized ovules.

Seed Dormancy

State of inactivity in seeds for survival.

Germination

Process of seed sprouting under favorable conditions.

Vegetative Growth

Growth phase before flowering in plants.

Fruit

Mature ovary protecting seeds and aiding dispersal.

Simple Fruits

Develop from single or fused carpels.

Aggregate Fruits

Develop from multiple separate carpels of one flower.

Multiple Fruits

Develop from a cluster of flowers.

Asexual Reproduction

Cloning process producing genetically identical offspring.

Fragmentation

Asexual reproduction via breaking off plant parts.

Apomixis

Seed production without fertilization.

Self-Incompatibility

Mechanism preventing self-fertilization in plants.

Dioecious Species

Plants with separate male and female individuals.

Totipotency

Ability of cells to develop into a complete organism.

Vegetative Propagation

Induced asexual reproduction through human intervention.

Transgenic Organisms

Organisms modified to express foreign genes.

Biofuels

Energy derived from living biomass.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulation of an organism's DNA.

Golden Rice

Transgenic rice addressing vitamin A deficiency.

Glyphosate-Resistant

Crops engineered to tolerate specific herbicides.

Transgene Escape

Unintentional transfer of engineered genes to wild relatives.

Coevolution

Joint evolution of interacting species.

Environmental Cues

Signals triggering plant growth transitions.

Callus

Mass of undifferentiated cells in plant tissue culture.

Scion

Grafted shoot of a plant.

Stock

Root system of a grafted plant.