CHAPTER -2
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN FLOWERING PLANTS
Flower Reproductive part of a plant
Sporogenous tissue Compactly arranged homogenous cells in the center of microsporangia,
undergo meiosis (Microsporogenesis) to form tetrads of microspores
Germ pore Apertures in the pollen grain, facilitate the exchange of gases and water, help
in emerging of pollen tube
Autogamy When pollination occurs between the same flower of the same plants
Egg apparatus Consists of synergids and filiform apparatus, help in the entry of pollen tube
into the embryo sac
Synergid Present in the embryo sac, two in number
Filiform apparatus Present in synergids, guider pollen tube entry into the embryo sac
Geitnogamy Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of another flower of
the same plant
Xenogamy Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a different plant
Triple fusion Male gamete fuses with two polar nuclei to form the triploid endosperm
Embryogeny Formation of embryo
Cotyledons the embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants
Scutellum Cotyledons of monocotyledon plants
Dormancy State of inactiveness
Parthenocarpy Development of fruit without fertilization ex- banana, orange
Polyembryony Occurrence of more than one embryo in seed Ex- lemon
Male Unisexual
Flower
Female Bisexual
Pre Fertilization event Fertilization Post Fertilization event
Pre-fertilization events
• It involves the formation of male and female gametes (gametogenesis) and gamete transfer.
• Gamete transfer- Bringing together male & female gamete
Male reproductive structure- Stamen
8
• Stamens consists of – Filament, Stalk and Anther
• Anther- it is Bilobed, Dithecous and each lobe has 2 pollen sacs
(microsporangia)
• Microsporangia have four layers Epidermis, Endothecium, Middle layers
and Tapetum (provides nourishment to the pollen grains).
Microsporogenesis (formation of microspore)
• Microsporogenesis is the process in which sporogenous tissues in microsporangia form meiocytes (2n).
The latter divide meiotically and form microspore tetrad (n).
• Each microspore matures into Pollen grains (male gametophyte)
Pollen grains
Inline (inner layer): it is composed of cellulose & pectin
Exine (outer layer): it is composed of sporopollenin.
Female reproductive structure (Carpel)
• Carpel has stigma, style and ovary. The ovary encloses ovules (megasporangium) in it.
• Ovule consists of Funicle, Hilum, Integuments, Micropyle, Chalaza, Nucellus and embryo sac. The embryo sac
is 7 celled and 8-nucleate structure-
• 7 cell- 3 antipodal cell + 2 synergids + egg + central cell
• 8 nucleate- 3 antipodal cell + 2 synergids + egg + 2 polar nuclei
Megasporogenesis (formation of megaspore)
• Inside ovule Megaspore Mother Cell (MMC) is formed. MMC undergoes meiosis and 4 haploid megaspores
are formed (Megaspore tetrad).
• Only one of the megaspores develops into a female gametophyte (Monosporic development).
POLLINATION
Autogamy Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower
Geitonogamy Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of another flower of the same plant
Xenogamy Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a different plant
9
Adaptation in pollination
Wind pollen grains are light, non-sticky, stamen well-exposed, large often-feathery stigma, often
monolocular ovule, numerous flowers packed into an inflorescence.
Water Pollen grains are long, ribbon like, and protected from wetting by a mucilaginous covering.
Insect Flowers are large, colourful, fragrant and rich in nectar. When the flowers are small, several flowers
are clustered into an inflorescence to make them conspicuous.
FERTILIZATION (Fusion of male and female gametes)
• Fusion of male gamete (in pollen) and female gamete (egg) in the embryosac.
• In some plants there are two male gametes. One fuses with an egg (syngamy) and the other fuses with two
polar nuclei (triple fusion). This is known as double fertilization.
POST FERTILIZATION EVENT
PEC Zygote Ovule Ovary
Endosperm Embryo Seed Fruit
Endospermic / Albuminous seeds Seeds that have endosperm wheat, rice
Non-endospermic / non-albuminous seeds Seeds that lack endosperm at maturity pea, bean
EMBRYO
• Zygote undergoes mitosis division to form 2- cell stage, 8-cell stage, Globular, Heart shaped stage, Torpedo
stage and finally the mature embryo.
Structure of a dicotyledonous embryo
Embryonal axis The main axis of the embryo which
divides it into different regions
Cotyledons Food storage and nourishment
Epicotyl and Part of the embryonal axis above and
hypocotyl below the cotyledons respectively
Plumule a radicle Stem tip and root tip respectively
Root cap Covering of root tip
Structure of monocot embryo
Coleorrhiza Sheath enclosing radicle & root cap
Coleoptile Sheath enclosing plumule
OUT BREEDING DEVICES ( to avoid inbreeding depression some plants develop devices to discourage self-pollination).
Pollen release and stigma receptivity are not synchronized.
Stigma and another position in the same flower are such in a way that they can’t come in contact.
Self - incompatibility
Production of the unisexual flower.
ARTIFICIAL HYBRIDIZATION
Emasculation- removal of anther before attaining maturity
Bagging- bagging of emasculated flower with a paper bag
Dusting- removal of bag and dusting with desired pollen on the stigma
Advantage- to prevent self-pollination and inbreeding depression
10
POLLEN PISTIL INTERACTION
Compatibility- Pollen of the same species as the stigma
Self-incompatible - Pollen of the wrong type, either from other species or from the same plant
The pistil can recognize Compatible or Incompatible pollen.
Wrong pollen is rejected and stigma and style
Monocot
SEED
Seed coat Radicle (root) Plumule (shoot) Cotyledon
Dicot
Importance of seeds
Protect embryo, provide nourishment to young seedlings, undergo dormancy to overcome the stressed situation
APOMIXIS
• Formation of seed without fertilization is known as apomixis.
• Diploid nucellar cells divide and enter inside the embryo sac and later develop into embryos.
• Sometimes, the egg cell is diploid due to the failure of meiosis. Such diploid egg cell later directly develops
into an embryo.
Polyembryony- the occurrence of many embryos in value. E.g. Citrus, mango, etc.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Very Short Answer Type Questions/ MCQ
1. How many thecae are present in bilobed anther-
a- One b- two c- three d- four
Ans: four
2. In a bilobed anther one locule contains 100 pollen mother cells. Calculate the amount of pollen tetrad
that the plant will form-
a- 100 b- 200 c- 300 d- 400
Ans: 100 x 4 = 400
3. Compare the role of the Tapetum and Sporogenous tissues in male flowers. -
i- Tapetum: provide nourishment to developing pollen
ii- Sporogenous tissue: divide to form pollen grains.
a- Both a and b are correct
b- Both a and b are incorrect
c- Only a is correct
d- Only b is correct
4. Identify the role of exine-
a- Help in the formation of germ pore
b- Consists of intine
c- Helps in the formation of male gametes
d- All are incorrect
Ans: a
5- How many male gametes are present in 3- celled stage pollen grains-
a- 1 b- 2 c- 3 4- infinite
Ans: 2
6- Mention one method by which pollen grains can be preserved.
Ans: cryopreservation
7- What is the Monosporic development of the embryo sac?
Ans: only one megaspore is functional and develops into the female gametophyte or the embryo sac
8- Embryo sacs are 7-celled and 8 nucleate. Explain.
11
Ans: Cells – 3 antipodal + 2 synergids + 1 egg cell+ 1 central cell
Nucleus: 3 antipodal + 2 synergids + 1 egg cell+ 2 Polar nuclei
9- What is the role of the egg apparatus?
Ans: Egg: fuses with male gamete to form zygote
Synergids: to guide the entry of pollen tube and release of male gamete
10- Give an account of the significance of double fertilization.
Ans: formation of the embryo
Formation of endosperm cell
Short Answer Type Questions
1- Why geitonogamy do is considered genetically autogamy?
Ans: in this, the transfer of pollen to the stigma takes place from another flower to the same plant.
2- Write the pollination pattern in the – Vallisnaria, Hydrilla, Zostera, and water lily.
Ans: Valisnaria, Hydrilla, Zoostera- water pollination, Water lily- Insect pollination or wind pollination
3- Briefly explain the floral reward provided by the yucca plant.
Ans: Provide a safe place to lay eggs, provide nectar
4- How does self-incompatibility restrict autogamy?
Ans: Self-incompatibility is a genetic mechanism that prevents self-pollination. This is done by inhibiting pollen
germination or pollen tube growth in the pistil.
5- What is the advantage of emasculation and bagging in artificial hybridization?
Ans: Emasculation is the removal of another before attaining maturity
Bagging is the covering of emasculated flowers with paper.
The advantage of both is that self-pollination can’t occur i.e. prevention from inbreeding depression.
6- Write the name of different layers of the anther. Mention the role of any one of these.
Ans: epidermis, endothecium, middle layer, and Tapetum.
Tapetum provides nourishment to developing pollen.
7- If the ploidy on the egg is “n”, what will be the ploidy of the endosperm of the same plant? Why endosperm
is supposed to have nutritive tissue?
Ans: ploidy of egg – haploid – n, Ploidy of endosperm- triploid- 3n, Endosperm provides nutrition to the
developing embryo and therefore supposed as nutritive tissue.
8- What is the fate of floral parts after fertilization?
Ans: After fertilization the petals, stamens, style and stigma degenerate. Calyx sometimes degenerates or
remains intact in dried form. Ovary becomes the fruit, ovules become seeds and the Ovary wall forms a
pericarp.
9- Describe double fertilization in flowering plants. Also, mention the products of double fertilization.
Ans: Syngamy: One male gamete fuse with an egg to form a zygote which later develops into an embryo.
Triple fusion: other male gamete fuses with two polar nuclei to form triploid endosperm.
10- Differentiate between parthenocarpy and parthenogenesis. Give one example of each.
Answer: Parthenocarpy- Development of fruit without fertilization
Parthenogenesis- development of a new individual without fertilization. E.g. Turkey birds, a few lizards
Long Answer Types Questions
1- Compare adaptation in flowers showing different pollination patterns.
Wind pollen grains are light, non-sticky, stamen well-exposed, large often-feathery stigma, often
monolocular ovule, numerous flowers packed into an inflorescence.
Water Pollen grains are long, ribbon like, and protected from wetting by a mucilaginous covering.
Insect Flowers are large, colourful, fragrant, and rich in nectar. When the flowers are small, several flowers
are clustered into an inflorescence to make them conspicuous.
2- Give the importance of outbreeding devices. How can be it achieved?
12
Ans: Outbreeding devices refer to plants’ processes or mechanisms to avoid self-pollination and encourage
cross-pollination. It can be achieved by
i- Unisexual flower- in this only cross-pollination is possible.
ii- Non-Synchronization in the release of pollen and stigma receptivity and vice versa.
iii- Position of anther and stigma- anther and stigma are placed at different positions so that the
pollen cannot come in contact with the stigma of the same flower
iv- Self-incompatibility: This is a genetic mechanism that prevents self-pollen from fertilizing the
ovules by inhibiting pollen germination or pollen tube growth in the pistil.
3- Does apomixis require fertilization and pollination? Write any two ways by which apomictic seeds may
be developed in angiosperms.
Ans: No
i- the nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac start dividing, protrude into them, diploid egg cell
is formed without reduction division and develops into an embryo.
ii- the embryo without fertilization-embryo sac and develop into the embryos
4- With a neatly labeled diagram, describe the parts of a typical angiosperm ovule.
5- Explain the development of the embryo in a dicotyledonous plant with
neatly labeled diagrams.
Ans: The embryo develops at the micropylar end where the zygote is located.
The zygote starts developing only after a certain amount of endosperm is
formed to assure nutrition to the embryo.
The zygote divides mitotically to form various stages including pro-embryo,
globular, heart-shaped and finally the mature embryo.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
US ON TELEGRAM
