4/20/24, 10:21 AM Reproduction in Plants- IGCSE Biology- IGCSE Pro

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Reproduction - The Plant

Edition

A sprouting seed, a newly born turtle cracking through its egg shell, a baby

🎵
homo sapien sapien receiving its first breath on Earth. Oh, what a wonderful
world

Asexual Reproduction
Question: Whats the difference between a sprouting seed, and a Human Newborn
baby?

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The Sprouting seed is reproduced Asexually, in contrast to the Human Newborn

baby which was reproduced Sexually.

Definition: Asexual Reproduction is a process resulting in the production of

genetically identical offspring(s) from one parent.

Now before you memorise this, here is some simple explanation:

Every Organism has Chromosomes (long threads of DNA found in the nucleus
of the cell) wherein genetic information is contained*. When an organism
reproduces asexually, some of the parent organism's cells undergo cell division
through mitosis*, producing new cell which are genetically identical to their
parent cells.

*See Inheritance for more information

Potatoes

Looks delicious doesn't it? That's why never study with an empty stomach!

🍟
🍟🍟 🍟🍟🍟
Potatoes reproduce Asexually. That's how we get our Fries , and More Fries
, and even more Fries .

1. A Parent potato plant has two kinds of stems- one which have leaves that
photosynthesise, and one which form stem tubers under the soil.

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2. Sucrose from the leaves gets transported to the stem tubers where it is
converted and stored as starch.

3. Eventually, the tubers grow in size. And when they are large enough, they get
harvested and used as food, and of course, as Fries.

Sexual Reproduction
Yes. Humans reproduce through sexual reproduction.

Definition: Sexual Reproduction is a process involving the fusion of the nuclei

of two gametes (sex cells) to form a zygote and the production of offspring that
are genetically different from each other

1. Gametes are sex cells that a parent organism that reproduces through
sexual reproduction produces. These include Egg and Sperm cells.

2. When two gametes fuse together, they form a new cell known as a Zygote. This
process is known as Fertilisation.

3. The Zygote then divides several times until a new organism is formed.

Gametes
A gamete only contains half the number of chromosomes than an ordinary cell.
When a Zygote forms, the two gametes fusing add up to the correct number of
total chromosomes.

Human gametes such as egg and sperm cells only contain 23 chromosomes each.
The normal number of chromosomes in a human cell is 46. When fertilisation
takes place, the Zygote formed will usually have 46 chromosomes (23 + 23 = 46).

Haploid and Diploid Cells

A normal human cell contains two sets of 23 different kinds of chromosomes.
One set comes from the father and the other set from the mother.

A cell with one set of chromosome is called a haploid cell.

The nuclei of a gamete is a Haploid cell.

A cell with two complete sets of chromosomes is called as a Diploid cell.

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The nucleus of a Zygote is a Diploid cell

A Comparison between Asexual and Sexual Reproduction

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Involves one parent Involves two parents

Involves mitosis Involves meiosis

Doesn’t involve fusion of gametes Involves fusion of gametes

Genetically identical organisms produced Genetically different organisms produced

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sexual Reproduction

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

Genetically Identical offspring forms. Genetically different offspring forms.

Offsprings more vulnerable to new infections Variation makes offspring gain

or diseases. resistant and adaptive characteristics

No need to find mate for reproducing Impossible without two parents.

(single parent).

Advantageous characteristics passed over to Wide genetic pool increases chances of survival.
offspring.

Competition for resources such as minerals, light, Offsprings can colonise new areas in search
and water. for resources.

Offsprings are clones of parents. Lesser chances of fertilisation to take place.

Sexual Reproduction in flowering plants

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In plants, sexual reproduction leads to the production of seeds that may be stored
inside its fruit.

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants usually takes place in their flowers. The
function of a flower is to make gametes. Usually, plants are a hermaphrodite,
which means that they can produce both- male and female gametes.

The Structure of a Flower 🌷

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PARTS OF THE FLOWER FUNCTION

Sepal Protects the flower

Petal Attracts insects through bright colours

Nectary Contains nectar that insects feed on

Filament Anchors the anther

Anther Contains the male gamete in pollen grains

Stigma Catches pollen

Style Supports stigma

Ovary Contains the ovules

Ovule Contains the female gamete

Pollination
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains, from the male part of the plant (anther
of stamen) to the female part of the plant (stigma).

There are two major methods of pollination.

Insect pollination: involves the transfer of pollen carried out by an insect.

a. An insect such as a bee visits the flower.

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b. It follows the guidelines towards the nectary and feeds on the nectar.

c. Meanwhile, some pollen gets brushed on its body and remains there.

d. When the insect visits another flower of the same plant or species, it is
likely that some pollen sticks onto the carpel.

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Wind pollination: involves the medium of transfer of pollen as the wind.

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Grass flower is an example of a wind pollinated flower

a. The anther produces large amounts of pollen grains.

b. The wind may blow some of these pollen onto the carpel of another flower
of the same species.

The Different Between Insect Pollination and Wind Pollination

WIND POLLINATION INSECT POLLINATION

Inconspicuous (pale coloured) petals Bright, vibrant pe

Small, or no petals at all Large Petals

No Scent Often strongly sc

No Nectaries Often have necta

Anthers dangling outside flower, where wind flows Anthers inside th

Large and feathery stigma, dangling outside flower, where wind flows Stigma inside the

Smooth surfaced, light pollen, that can be blown away by the wind Sticky and thorny

Enormous quantities of pollen made, because most will be blown away and lost. Quite large quant

Types of Pollination
There are two types of pollination, namely Self Pollination and Cross Pollination.

Self Pollination

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Definition: Self Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a
flower to the stigma of the same flower or different flower on the same plant.

We can understand self pollination better through these scenarios:

1. The pollen gets transferred from the anther of a flower to the stigma of
the same flower

2. The pollen gets transferred from the anther of a flower to the stigma of a
different flower on the same plant.

Cross Pollination

Definition: Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a

flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species.

Note that if the pollen lands on the stigma of a different species, the pollination
will not be successful.

Fertilisation
Pollination just transfers the pollen containing the male gamete to the stigma.
This means that the male gamete has not yet reached the ovule.

Steps to Fertilisation

1. A pollen tube grows into the style towards the ovary.

2. It secretes enzymes digest its way through it.

3. The ovary contains many ovules with a tough covering over each ovule
called integuments.

4. The integuments have a small hole in them to let the male gamete pass
called the micropyle.

5. The pollen tube grows through the micropyle.

6. The male gamete travels into the ovule

7. The male and female gametes fuse together and form a zygote.

8. Fertilisation takes place.

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Seed germination

Germination occurs when a seed sprouts and starts to grow.

There are three environmental conditions that affect germination of seeds:

FACTOR FUNCTIONS

Water - Makes the seed swell in order to burst open the testa.

- Activates Enzymes such as Amylase and Protease in the Cotyledons

Oxygen - Facilitates the release of energy needed for Germination

Suitable Temperature - Helps enzymes operate efficiently until the optimum temperature is reache

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Next Topic:

Reproduction in Humans - IGCSE Biology 2020- IGCSE Pro

Reproduction is the story of how you, me and 7.8 billion humans were
born on theearth! --------------------------------------------------------…

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