Reproduction in Plants

Asexual
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It does not involve flowers,
pollination and seed production. Instead, a new plant grows from a vegetative part.

Vegetative reproduction from a stem usually involves the buds. Instead of producing a branch, the bud
grows into a complete plant which eventually becomes self-supporting. Since no gametes are involved, the
plants produced asexually have identical genes and the offspring form is considered a clone.

Principle Types of Vegetative Reproduction

Bulbs
Bulbs consist of very short stems with closely packed leaves arranged in circles around the stem. These
leaves are swollen with stored food e.g. onion. A terminal bud will produce next year’s flowering shoot and
the lateral (axillary) buds will produce new plants.

Rhizomes
Rhizomes are stems that grow horizontally under the ground. In some cases the underground stems are
swollen with food reserves e.g. iris. The terminal bud turns upwards to produce the flowering shoot and
the lateral buds may grow out to form new rhizomes.

Runners
Runners are also horizontal stems growing from the parent plant, but they grow above ground. When
their terminal buds touch the ground they take root and produce new plants.

Stolons
Stolons are a horizontal branch from the base of a plant that produces new plants from buds at its tip or
nodes.

Advantages of vegetative reproduction

1. Buds are produced in an environment where parents are able to flourish (due to food stores).
2. Produces clusters of the organism with little to no room for competitors
 RHIZOMATUS PLANT

leaves

bulb

oots

.,- Runner
Artificial Propagation those methods that are carried by man to breed plants.

Types:

1. Cutting
- when the stem of a plant, with nodes, is cut and grown as a new plant.
For Example, the Rose plant is commonly propagated by cutting.

2. Layering
- a method of bending a stem of a plant down to the ground and developing it into an entire plant by growing roots in
a bent area.
For example, Boxwood, honeysuckle, etc.

3.Grafting
Grafting is a method of joining two different plants and growing them as one. It is done to develop new varieties.
For example, commonly it is carried out in Mango

4. Marcotting/Air-layering
Method of cutting woody plants. It involves cutting a branch from a parent plant, place the branch in a
marcotting mixture and allowing it to form roots.
Guaranteed food supply (natural
propagation)
 Sexual Reproduction in plants

Reproduction in flowering plants may occur both sexually or asexually.

Pollination can take place with the help of agents: wind or insects. It is
the transfer of pollen grains from the male part of the plant (anther) to the
female part (stigma).

Self-pollination (autogamy) occurs when the pollen, from the anther, is

deposited on the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the
same plant. Cross-pollination (xenogamy/allogamy) is the transfer of
pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower on a
different individual of the same species.

Within cross-pollination, there are agents of transfer that fit into two
categories: abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living). Examples of abiotic
agents are water and wind. Examples of biotic are bees, ants, birds, snails,
etc.

Wind pollination pollen is transferred to one flower to another by wind.

Insect pollination pollen is transferred from one flower to another by

wind.

Pollen grains.
 Structure and functions of a flower

Pistil
Structural adaptations

Common misconceptions

Students often get confused between pollination and seed dispersal. When
animals such as insects carry pollen, they aid pollination. When animal carry
seeds, they aid seed dispersal.
Growth of pollen tube and the process of fertilization

Figure below shows a section through a single carpel.

If pollen grains are of the same species as the flower they land on, they
may germinate. Germination is triggered by a sugary solution on the
stigma, and involves the growth of a pollen tube from the pollen grain.

The pollen tube contains the male nucleus, which is needed to fertilise the
ovule inside the ovary. The pollen tube grows down the style, through the
ovary wall, and through the micropyle of the ovule.

Fertilisation is the fusion of the male nucleus with the female nucleus. If the
ovary contains a lot of ovules, each will need to be fertilised by a different
pollen nucleus.

Video: Flower Reproduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqM6rgB_l_o

Video: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkBNEM2mD30
 Germination - the growth of embryo into seed

The fertilised ovule divides by mitosis to form a seed containing the

embryo plant and food stores called cotyledons.

 The wall of the ovule forms the seed testa (coat).

 The ovary wall develops into a fruit, which may be fleshy (e.g. plum)
or a dry pod (e.g. lupin or pea).

Structure of a seed
Try this

Figure below shows a section through a bean flower.

a) Name the parts labeled A and B [2 marks]

b) This flower is insect-pollinated. Suggest how parts C, D and E help in

pollination of this flower. [3 marks]

c) After pollination, the ovules develop into seeds. Describe the events which
occur after pollination and which result in the formation of seeds [4 marks]

Answer

a) A: ovule, B:sepal

b) C (petal) are large and colourful to attract insects

D (stigma) is sticky and lies in the way of the insects to cllect pollen
E (anther) produces pollen and lies in the way of the insects
to transfer pollen on to their bodies.

c) Four points form:

- pollen grains germinate
- pollen tube grows down the style
- through the micropyle
- into the ovule
- the male nucleus fuses with the female nucleus
- reference to fertilisation
 Steps of Germination in Monocots and Dicots

Monocot

1. Water fills the seed with swells/softens the seed coat. They have starchy seeds and require ~30%
water content.
2. The water activates enzymes that begin the seed germination. Cell division and elongation occur.
3. The seed grows a root to access water underground. This root is covered by a coleorhiza/sheath
4. The seed grows shoots that grow towards the sun, sheathed in a layer known as coleoptile.
5. The shoots grow leaves and begin photomorphogenesis.

Dicot
1. Water fills the seed with swells/softens the seed coat. They have oily seeds and require ~50%
water content.
2. The water activates enzymes that begin the seed germination. Cell division and elongation occur.
3. The seed grows a root to access water underground. This is a radical. An apical meristem will
develops into the root system.
4. The seed grows shoots that grow towards the sun, consisting of cotyledons.
5. The shoots grow leaves and begin photomorphogenesis.

Dicots display two types of germination: epigeous (the shoot can make a hook & tip through the soil
then above the surface) or hyogeous (cotyledons remain underground and eventually decompose
while parts above-ground continues growing).

In both, seedlings grow slowly. The root first develops then its leave.
Germination in Corn
Germination in Bean
Environmental conditions affecting germination

1.Water:

 absorbed through microphyle until radicle is forced out of testa

 activate enzymes for converting soluble food stores in the cotyledons
down to soluble food ---> for growth + energy production of baby
plant.

2.Oxygen: respiration ---> release energy ---> growth

3.Warmth/temperature: enzymes present in the seed get activated and

work best at optimum temperature (20-400C) which trigger growth in the
baby plant.

4. Light intensity: high or very low light intensity does not allow enzymes
to function normally.