As a Matter of Fact

PLANT REPRODUCTION Common Mistake

Chapter Like all other living things, plants too produce All plants reproduce through seeds.
more of their own kind so that their species does
Actual Fact
not die out. In other words, plants reproduce.
Plants reproduce in different ways. These include Most flowering plants reproduce through
Plant Life " Reproduction through seeds.
seeds. However, some plants reproduce
through spores or other parts of the plant
About one-third of the world's land Reproduction through spores. body like stem, root or leaf.
surface is covered with forests which
Reproduction through different parts of
support a variety of plant life. Some plants the plant body like stem, root or leaf. lawe
bear flowers while others don't. Plants
like peas, dahlia, sunfiower and marigold Reproduction through seeds
bear flowers and are known as flowering
plants. Plants like pine, spruce and fern do Plants like mango, brinjal, tomato and orange
not bear flowers and are known as non bear flowers. These flowers change into fruits.
The fruits have seeds inside them. These seeds
flowering plants 1. Nome ony three fowering plants grow into new plants when they get adequate adult plant flower

Look at the picture below. It shows a Also write the names of these plants air, water, soil and ternperature.
beautiful log cabin deep inside the woods. in your mother tonguUe.
A little girl named Karen lives in the cabin
Structure of a Seed
with her family. To Karen, her home seems
2. Nome a plant that bears cones
to be the best place in the world. She loves Aseed has three main parts. These are
the tall trees and the beautiful flowers that a) Seed coat: It is the outer covering of
new plant fruit and seed
surround her home. Obsenve the picture 3 Name o plant besides pine that does the seed. It protects the baby plant
carefully and answer the related questions not bear flowers present inside the seed. The seed coat has a
given on the left. tiny opening through which air and water can
enter the seed. seed leaves or cotyledons
seed coat baby plant
b) Seed leaves or cotyledons: The
Teacher's Notes
cotyledons contain stored food which is
1. The process of germination should be demonstrated
experimentally used by the baby plant for growth.
2. Bring sprouted seeds to the class and point out the seed coat,
learners,
cotyledons and the baby plant to the
Some plants like rice and corn have only Opening
3. Carry a few mushrooms to the class and point out the spore bearing parts.
4,
one cotyledon while plants like peas and
Encourage children to collect information on harvesting, winnowing and storing of grains gram have two cotyledons.
seed coat
outside inside
5. Emphasise the importance of washing fruits. vegetables and grains before consumption in order to Structure of a Bean Seed
remove not only dirt and qerms but also harmnful chemicals like insecticides and pesticides. ) Baby plant: After germination, the baby
plant grows to become a new plant.
 Gernination Dispersal of seeds
No. This is because RIDDLE
An adult plant produces many seeds. Do all the seeds grow into new plants? are
Aplant usually produces many seeds. What would happen if all the CORNER
of the fact that some seeds are eaten and digested by birds, insects or animals: some seeds fall and germinate near the mother plant? If seeds germinate
by bad weather vwhile others may not get sufficient air, water or warmth to orow 2 What lives in winter,
destroved and start growing close to each other, then they would not get
or a seedling
seed survives and gets suitable conditions, then it produces a baby plant enough sunlight, water, nutrients or space to grow. Due to this, dies in summer and
a seed and begins to orow some seedlings would die while others would show poor growth. grows with its root
The proçess by which a baby plant or a seedling emerges from
Hence, seeds need to be scattered in order to prevent overcrowding. upward?
is called germination.
The process by which seeds are scattered away from the mother Answer:An iciclel
Conditions for germination plant is called dispersal.
air, water and
Most seeds do not germinate until th conditions are right. All seeds require Since plants cannot move from one place to another, seeds are
propertemperature togerminate. Some seeds may also require propersunlight forgermination.
dispersed by wind, water, animals or explosion of fruits. These
are known as agents of dispersal.
Stages of Germination
Seed germination begins when the seed takes in water rapidly Dispersal by wind
and begins to swell, Let us study the different stages in the
opening
in the Some plants have seeds that are very light and have special features like wings or hair. Such
germination of a bean seed. ed coat seeds are easily carried away or dispersed by wind.

1. When the seed gets adequate water, air and warmth, My wings help My hair act like little lam fluffy, so I
it germinates. It starts absorbing.water through me to fly long distances parachutes and carry me away. can float away.
tiny opening present in the seed coat The seed coat
becomes soft and loose. The water also softens the food
that is stored in the cotyledons. oot

2. Asthe seed swells, the seed coat splits and the tip of
the baby plant emerges. It soon starts growing roots in
the downward direction. The root helps to fix the seed sycamore seeds Dandelion seeds cotton seeds
have wings have hair have fluff
in the soil. It also absorbs water and minerals from the emerging
shoot
soil. The growing baby plant uses the food stored in the floating fruit
cotyledons for growth. (Dispersal by water) seeds being
released in water
3. ihe baby plant soon develops a shoot which grows in Some plants qrow in or near
the upward direction water. Seeds of such plants
4 The growing seedling soon develaps leaves and stacts are usually dispersed by
water. Such seeds usually
making its Own food, By this time, the foodpresentin
have a waterproof covering.
the cotyledons is used up. The cotyledons dry up and leaves
coconut plant lotus
fall of. This indicates that the process of germination is Seed
eaves
complete.
 covering which helps it to float Sinilary
For example, the seeds of coconut plant have a fibrous When the seeds math ure
a) Reproduction through roots: Certain
ohs basa spongy and light fruit which floats on the surface of water. ants like dahlia, carrot, radish
plants and
seeds into water.)
the fruit tips and releases the turnip can reproduce through their roots.
b) Reproduction through stem: Plants
Dispersal by animals like potato and ginger can reproduce
New plants can be Roots of dahlia can
grow into new plants
grown from sweet potato
Sometimes, birds and other hoks
oines through their stern.
animals eat the fleshy fruit and
throw away the seeds or they
may eat both, but the seeds are Burdock Seed
Cocklebur
passed out unharmed with their
droppings. This helps in the dispersal of seeds. Mango and orange seeds are dispersed by animals
Some seeds have hooks, spines or bristles. They stick to the fur of animals or clothing of human
have
beingsand are dispersed, For example burdock seeds have hooks while cocklebur seeds Potato Ginge
spines which help in their dispersal. Plants like rose, money plant and sugarcane can grow into new plants through stem cuttings.
A stem cutting is a length of stem which is planted in the soil.
Dispersal by explosion Why are we being
Scattered?
Frults of certain plants like pea, ladyfinger and bean
burst open on ripening and scatter the seeds in all Peas
SEEING tS BELIEVING
directions leading to their dispersal. This method of Take a money plant and cut a small potion
dispersal is known as explosion. of the stem. Place it in a bottle of water and keep
it in sunlight. You will observe that roots start
Reproduction through spores Beans developing within a week.
Some plants like mosses, ferns and fungl do not Rose Money plant Sugarcane
bear seeds. They reproduce with the help of tiny dust-like structures called spores. leal edge
) Reproduction through leaves: Some plants plantlet
like bryophyllum reproduce through their
leaves. Tiny plantlets grow along the edge of
the leaves. These plantlets drop off after some
Bryophyllum Leaf
time and grow into adult plants.

Mushroom Mosses Ferrn

AGRICULTURE
Reproduction through roots, stems and leaves We yet most of our food from plants. Plants of the same type that are grown over
Some plants reproduce through various body parts like root, stem or leaves. large area for food or other uses are called crops. The practice of growing crops on
a large scale for food or other purposes is called agriculture. Different crops grow in
diferent seasons, climates and soils.)
 Crops and Seasons SCIENCE HUMOUR
Some plants like wheat, gram, mustard and beans Which vegetable an tie
harvested by
are grown in winters. These crops are your stomach in knots?
March-April. Such crops are called rabi cropg String beans!

Some plants like rice, maize, cotton, bajra and jowar

3. Sowing of seeds
are sown at the onset of monsoon. These crops are Sowing good quality seeds is
4. Proper irigation
hanvested in September-October. Such crops are ExCURSION Crops have to be watered at regular
essential for growing good crops intervals for proper growth.
known as kharif crops.
Visit a nearby field and talk to
the farmer about the various
Crops and Soil
crops and their sowing seasons.
Different crops require different types of soil to You can also discuss about the
different
grow well. Hence, crops are grown in various stages of agriculture.
places according to the kind of soil and the amount
of water that they require.
can hold a lot of water. On 6. Harvesting and Storing
For example, crops likeandiagrow well in clayey soil which 5. Crop protection Once the crop is ripe, it is cut down or
the other hand, crops like joar and bajra grow in sandy soil and do not require much water. harvested. the harvested crop is then stored
well-drained soil Insectiides and pesticides are sprayed
soil while tea plantation requires moist,
Similariy, cotton grows well in black to protect crops from insects like locusts property to keep it safe from moisture,
which is commonly found on hill slopes. and pests like rats insects and pests.

Stages of Agriculture
the
Growing a heathy crop requires a lot of hard work and preparation. Let us learn more about MY BAG OF TERMS
various stages of agriculture. "Germination
"Seed coat Cotyledons " Dispersal
Agriculture - Khanf crop "Rabi crop "Manure "Spores

Now I KNOW
4 Plants reproduce through three main ways through seeds, through spores or through
diferent parts of the plant body like root, stem or leaves.
to
The process by which a baby plant or a seedling emerges from a seed and begins
2, Addition of manure grow is alled germination.
1. Preparation of the soil Addition of manure and chernical fertilizers
Ploughing loosens the soil <Germination requires air, water and proper temperature
makes the soil rich in nutrients
(3
 from the mother plant is s called
which seeds are scattered away dispersal.
The process by
Common agents of dispersal are wind,
water, animais and explosion of frnuite Put On Vour Thinking Cap
or other purposer
ADlante of the same type that are grown over a large area for food A Fill in the blanks with the correct option.
1 Cnsecticides/Fertillizers) are sprayed to protect crops
called crops.
o other purposes is called aanodh from insects like locusts
The pracice of growing aops on a large scale or tood 2 EyophytlumyRose) reproduces through leaf.
at the end of monsoon are called
Crops that are grown in sSUmmers and harvested 3 The outer covering of the seed is called (eed cogvcotyledon).
khanif crops. 4. Ferns reproduce through (seed spore
rabi crops
Crops that are grown in winters and harvested by March-April are called
(Rice/ Tea) grows well in clayey soil,

B. Match the following.

Let us surf the net
No.Plant Feature Agents of Dispersal
Let us have fun, while we learn. Cockiebur
Link: http:/www.zephyrus.co.uk/seeddispersall.htrml Fibrous covering a) Animals
2. sjeamore ii 40 i) Spines Wind
3. CoconuC in) Wings ) Water

Link and learn C Correct and rewrite the following statements bybothe highlighted words.
1. Plants like ferns beanflowers. Spo
Fill in the empty boxes with the help words given below. 2
The seed çozt cogtainsstored food that is used by the baby plant for growth geinbon |
3. The pocess by which a baby plant emerges from a seed is called dispersal
Coconut, Pea, Wind, Lotus, Cocklebur, Animals, Dandelion 4. Cotton seeds are dispersed tby water. Wtndo
Dahlia can reproduce through its leaves-Se
Agents of Dispersal
R Tick ( the correct option.
1. Seed of ditferent plants have specific features that help thme in dispersal. The table given
below gives the features of seeds of four different plants

Plants Features

Wind Water
Arinal Explosion of
fruits
Burdock Seeds with hooks

Sycamore
Cocshut Burdock Coconut Seeds with fibrous outer coat

Sycamore Seeds with wings

Bean
Dandelion Seeds with hair that act like little parachutes

A5
 Based on the features, identiiy the seeds that
are likely dispersed by water. INTERDIsCIPLINARY ACTIVITY (Explore India)
2
b) Seeds of coconut plant
a) Seeds of dandelion plant
d)
Seeds of burdock plant Integrated With Art and Social Science
) Seeds of sycamore plant
plant part governs reproduction in money argest county
odia is the seventh largest country ininthe worid Agnere the prinary sourte of livelihood
3. Money plant does not produce seeds. Which for about 58% of India's population. India is the world's largest producer of pulses and jute,
plant? Cutting of stem
a) Flowers
b) and ranks as the second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, vegetables,
d) Root hair fruit and cotton.
c) Leaf
E. Answer the following questions. Our country has varied climate and soils which allows us to grow diverse crops. For example.
1. ure of a seed with a well-labelled diagram.
Describe the structure cotton grows best in black soil which is commonly found in the Deccarn plateau. Gujarat,
2 Mention the three ways by which plants can reproduce. germination. Maharashtra and Telangana are states that produce the maximum cotton.
for
Define germination. Mention the conditions essential of seeds essential?
What is meant by dispersal of seeds? Why is
dispersal On the other hand jute grows best in warm and humid climate. West Bengal, Bihar and Assam
5 Mention any two special features of seeds that are dispersed by air.example of each. are the major jute growing states.
crops with one
6. Write any two differences between rabi and kharif In the map given below, colour the jute producing states in yellow and the cotton producing
states in green.

HOTS QUESTIONS
of a bean seed.
The dlagrams glven alongside depict the various stages in the germination
Stetes and UnlenTertorles
1.
Observe the diagrams carefully and answer the related questions.
a) At stage B, where does the seedling get Its food from?
Give reason for
b) At which stage would the seedling be able to undergo photosynthesis?
your answer.
ATN

stage a stage stage c

2. Ridhima's grandparents live in a village in Punjab. Ridhima visits them twice every year. This
year she observed that maize was grown in June, while farmers grew mustard and pea in
November. Why do you think farmer's grow maize in June and mustard in November?

T7