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REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS
Biological Sciences Department

Melanie P. Medecilo

Reference: Madder (2006)

WHAT IS A FLOWER?
- interpreted as modified shoots, consisting of an axis and appendages that may be sterile (perianth) or fertile (stamens, pistils).

Terms associated with a 'typical', modern flower:

Anatomy of a Flower

Flowers

Reproduction in Plants

Leaf-like sepals protect the bud

Open flower has whorl of petals
Four whorls of modified leaves attached to a receptacle at the end of a flower stalk
- Receptacle with a single flower is a peduncle

- Receptacle with several flowers is a pedicel

Flowers

Reproduction in Plants

Flower develops in response to environmental signals such as day length

In monocots, flower parts occur in threes and multiples of three In eudicots, flower parts occur in fours or fives and multiples of four or five

Reproductive Strategies

Reproduction in Plants

All plants have a two-stage, alternating life cycle

Sporophyte produces haploid spores by meiosis Spores divide mitotically to become haploid gametophytes Gametophytes produce gametes

Gametes fuse to produce zygote

Zygote divides mitotically to become diploid sporophyte

Alternation of Generations in Flowering Plants

Flowers

Reproduction in Plants

Stamens are male portion of flower

Anther - Saclike container
Filament - Slender stalk

Carpel is female portion of flower

Stigma - Enlarged sticky knob Style - Slender stalk Ovary - Enlarged base enclosing ovules

Monocot vs. Eudicot Flowers

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Flower Symmetry

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Flower with radial symmetry because Flower with bilateral symmetry because the the perianth segments (petals and perianth segments are dissimilar in size and sepals) are similar in size and shape. shape. This type of flower is divisible into This type of flower is divisible into equal equal halves along only one plane halves along more than one plane.

Ovary Position

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OVARY POSITION

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Complete vs. incomplete flowers:

Complete flowers have sepals, petals, stamens, and a carpel Incomplete flowers missing one or more of above

Flowers

Reproduction in Plants

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Bisexual vs. unisexual flowers:

Bisexual flowers have both stamens and carpel Unisexual flowers have one but not the other

Monoecious vs. dioecious plants

Monoecious plants have staminate flowers and carpellate flowers on the same plant

Corn Plants are Monoecious

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Inflorescence
= a collection or aggregation of flowers on an individual plant = often function to enhance reproduction
A. Spike - an indeterminate inflorescence, consisting of a single axis bearing sessile flowers B. Raceme - single axis bears pedicellate flowers C. Panicle - branched raceme D. Corymb - single axis has lateral axis and/or pedicels bearing flat-topped or convex flowers E. Umbel - flat-topped or convex inflorescence with pedicels attached at one point to a peduncle. F. Fascicle - racemelike or paniclelike inflorescence with pedicellate flowers in which internodes between flowers are very short. Catkin - a male spike or elongate axis that falls as a unit after flowering or fruiting Head crowded group of sessile or subsessile flowers on a compound receptacle Spadix spike with a thickenedd or fleshy central axis, with congested flowers and subtended by a spathe

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G. H. I.

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An inflorescence may be defined as a cluster of flowers, all flowers arising from the main stem axis or peduncle:

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HEAD

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Reproductive Strategies
Microspore - Male gametophyte
- Undergoes mitosis
- Becomes pollen grain

Reproduction in Plants

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Flower produces two types of spores

Megaspore - Female gametophyte

- Undergoes mitosis - Becomes embryo sac within an ovary, within an ovule - Ovule becomes seed

From Spores to Fertilization Male Gametophytes

Reproduction in Plants

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Microspores are produced in anthers Each anther has four pollen sacs, each with many microsporocytes
- Undergoes meiosis to produce microspores
- Mitosis produces pollen grains

Production of Female Gametophyte Ovary contains one or more ovules

Ovule has mass of parenchyma cells

Reproduction in Plants

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One cell enlarges to become megasporocyte

- Undergoes meiois and becomes four haploid megaspores
- Functional megaspore divides mitotically until there are eight nuclei of a female gametophyte

Pollination

Reproduction in Plants

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Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther to the stigma of a carpel

Self-pollination occurs if the pollen is from the same plant Cross-pollination occurs if the pollen is from a different plant

Pollination

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WHAT IS A FRUIT?

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matured ovaries containing seeds. classified according to their composition and the ways in which the ovary walls mature.

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General Fruit Terminology

Fruit Types and Seed Dispersal

Reproduction in Plants

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Simple Fruits
Simple fruits are derived from single or several united carpels

A single ripened ovary from a single flower

Simple Fruits
Fleshy - All of most of the ovary wall (pericarp) is soft or fleshy at maturity. Drupe
Berry Pome Pepo Hesperidium

Reproduction in Plants

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Dry - Pericarp dry at maturity A. Dry Dehiscent pericarp splits open along definite seams

Follicle

Legume
Capsule Achene Nut Grain

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Berry: All or most of pericarp Pepo: Berry with hard, thick fleshy rind

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Drupe: Seed enclosed within a stony endocarp (pit).

Hesperidium: Berry with a leathery rind

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Pome: Accessory fruit with thick hypanthium

Simple Fruits
Dispersal

Reproduction in Plants

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- Many seeds are dispersed by wind

Woolly

hairs, plumes, wings

Fleshy fruits - Attract animals and provide them with food

- Peaches, cherries, tomatoes

Accessory fruit - Bulk of fruit is not from ovary, but from receptacle
- Apples

Pea Flower and Pea Pod

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Structure and Function of Fruits

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Multiple Fruit: Many ovaries derived from many individual flowers.

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Dehiscent Dry Fruits (Split Open At Maturity)

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Legume or Pod: Composed of one carpel

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Capsule: Composed of several fused carpels

Follicle: One carpel that splits along one seam

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Silique: Two carpels separated by a seedbearing septum.

Indehiscent Dry Fruits (Do Not Split Open At Maturity) 43

Achene: Small, one-seeded fruit; pericarp free from seed coat.

Grain (Caryopsis): One-seeded fruit; pericarp fused with seed coat.

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Samara: One-seeded, winged achene

Nut: One-seeded fruit with hard pericarp

Indehiscent Dry Fruits (Do Not Split Open At Maturity)

Schizocarp: Seedbearing carpels split apart, but remain indehiscent.

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Utricle: Small, bladderlike, thin-walled indehiscent fruit

Compound Fruits

Reproduction in Plants

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Compound fruits develop from several individual ovaries

Aggregate Fruits
- Ovaries are from a single flower

- Blackberry

Multiple Fruits
- Ovaries are from separate flowers clustered together

Fertilization
When pollen grain lands on stigma, it germinates forming a pollen tube Passes between the stigma and style to reach the micropyle of the ovule Double fertilization occurs
One sperm nucleus unites with the egg nucleus, producing a zygote Other sperm nucleus unites with the polar nuclei, forming a 3n endosperm cell

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Life Cycle of Flowering Plants

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Seed Development

Development of eudicot embryo

After double fertilization, endosperm nucleus begins to divide asymmetrically Small cell is destined to become the embryo Larger cell divides repeatedly to become a suspensor

Development of a Eudicot Embryo

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Monocot vs. Eudicot

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Development of Eudicot Embryo

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During globular stage, prembryo is ball of cells Outermost cells will become dermal tissue Embryo is heart shaped when cotyledons appear
Epicotyl is portion between cotyledons contributing to shoot development Hypocotyl is portion below that contributes to stem development Radicle contributes to root development

Seed Germination

Reproduction in Plants

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When seed germination occurs, the embryo resumes growth and metabolic activity Length of time seeds retain their viability is quite variable
Some seeds do not germinate until they have been through a dormant period
- Temperate zones - Cold Weather - Deserts - Rain

Seed Germination

Reproduction in Plants

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Environmental requirements for seed germination

Availability of oxygen for metabolic needs Adequate temperature for enzyme activity

Adequate moisture for hydration of cells

Light (in some cases)

Respiration and metabolism continue throughout dormancy, but at a reduced level

Seed Structure and Germination in the Common Garden Bean

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Corn Kernel Structure and Germination

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Asexual Reproduction in Plants

Reproduction in Plants

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Plants contain nondifferentiated meristem tissue Allows them to reproduce asexually by vegetative propagation Plant hormone auxin:
Can be used to cause roots to develop Expands the list of plants that can be propagated from cuttings

Asexual Reproduction in Plants

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