11. Reproduction

The production of new offspring in plants.

Plant Reproduction

Types of Plant Reproduction

Asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.

A type of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes and produces offspring that are genetically identical or nearly identical to the parent plant.

Asexual Reproduction

Genetic Identity in Asexual Reproduction

Offspring produced through asexual reproduction are genetically identical to the parent plant, except when mutations occur.

A form of asexual reproduction in which new plants develop from vegetative plant parts such as roots, stems, or leaves rather than from seeds produced by fertilization.

Vegetative Reproduction

A method of asexual reproduction in which plant parts such as leaves, stems, or roots produce new individuals.

Vegetative Propagation

Structures such as corms, stem tubers, rhizomes, and stolons can produce new plants through vegetative reproduction.

Vegetative Reproduction Structures

A short, swollen underground stem that stores nutrients and can produce a new plant through vegetative reproduction.

Corm

A swollen underground stem that stores nutrients and can produce a new plant through vegetative reproduction.

Stem Tuber

A horizontal underground stem that stores nutrients and can produce new plants through vegetative reproduction.

Rhizome

A horizontal stem that grows along or near the soil surface and can produce new plants at its nodes.

Stolon

Common Methods of Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Fragmentation, vegetative propagation, and apomixis.

A type of asexual reproduction in which a plant or part of a plant breaks into fragments, with each fragment capable of developing into a new individual.

Fragmentation

A type of asexual reproduction in which seeds are produced without fertilization, producing offspring genetically identical or nearly identical to the parent plant.

Apomixis

Produces seeds without fertilization.

Apomixis and Fertilization

Apomixis and Genetic Identity

Generally produces offspring genetically identical or nearly identical to the parent plant.

A type of reproduction involving the fusion of male and female gametes to produce offspring with genetic variation.

Sexual Reproduction in Plants

Development of a sporophyte from a gametophyte without fertilization.

Apogamy

Development of a gametophyte from a sporophyte without meiosis or spore formation.

Apospory

Apogamy Sequence

Gametophyte → Sporophyte (Diploid)

Apospory Sequence

Sporophyte → Gametophyte. (Haploid)

Large spore that develops into the female gametophyte.

Megaspore

Small spore that develops into the male gametophyte.

Microspore

Megaspore

Female.

Microspore

Male.

Ovule → Megaspore → Female gametophyte

Mature ovule

Pollen mother cell → Microspore → Pollen grain

Pollen

Pollination by wind.

Anemophily

Pollination by insects.

Entomophily

Pollination by birds.

Ornithophily

Pollination by bats.

Chiropterophily