Chapter 22 (Plant Reproduction) Flashcards
Definition of pollination
The transfer of pollen grains (male gamete, n) from the anther (male reproductive structures) to stigma (female reproductive structures) of another plant prior to fertilisation
Where are male and female gametes located
Male gametes - located within pollen grain
Female gametes - ovules located in ovary
for male: stamen = anthers and filaments
Pollinating agents.
Abiotic - wind, water.
Biotic - insects, other animals eg birds, bats, slugs, cats (attached to fur and in faeces)
Megasporanium info and microsporangium?
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Types of pollination?
Cross pollination and self pollination.
Advantages of self pollination?
- Only 1 parent required
- Offspring inherits alleles from parents (which have proven success) - increases inheritance of beneficial alleles.
- Pollination not dependent on external factors for pollination, eg wind, insects.
- As anther and stigmas are arranged in close proximity, it increases chances of SP being successful.
- Less pollen wasted, so less energy wasted as less pollen needs to be produced.
- Less energy used in producing features which attracts insects, eg coloured, large flowers, nectar.
Disadvantages of self pollination?
- reduced gene pool
- Reduced variety in population
- reduced resistance in population
- Evolution of new varieties less likely - evolutionary dead end.
- Weaker alleles remain in population - weaker plants not lost/removed.
Advantages of cross pollination?
- Increases variation in population for natural selection.
- Ensures outbreeding occurs.
- Wides gene pool due to mixing of alleles.
- Increases number of heterozygotes, so less homozygous recessive or less disease genes expressed.
- so increases allele frequency of advantageous gene
- increases passage of favourable alleles to next generation.
- makes them less susceptible to disease and increases survival of the species as it ensures individuals of a species can adapt better in a harsh environment if environment changes.
Disadvantages of cross pollination?
- 2 parents required
- Needs another plant in nearby area (not good if plants are widely scattered or rare)
- dependant on external pollination agent eg, wind, insect.
- More energy used to produce greater quantity of pollen and make flowers attractive to insects.
- Lower rates of successful pollination due to distance/dependancy on insects.
- May lose advantageous phenotype
- Can lead to disease transmission.
Mechanisms for increasing insect pollination success?
Colourful flowers to attract insects
Food rewards (nectar or pollen) to attract insects, eg, pea plants (legumes)
Scents to attract insects
Labellum - type of petal - landing platform.
Pheremones produced
Physical adaptations - Flower mimicry eg, bee orchid, hammer orchid, pseudocopulation
chemical mimicry
Entrapment
sugars produced in nectary
How is pollination of flowers by insects a mutualistic relationship?
Insect. - gains energy from nectar or pollen it consumes
Plant. - gains gamete dispersal mechanism
Mechanisms for increasing wind pollination success?
Petals - small and green as no need to attract insects.
pollen grains - small and light + occur in large numbers. - to be carried.
Anthers exposed to wind so pollen easily blown away.
Stigma feathery + large SA to catch pollen grains landing on them
No scent or nectary.
Importance of the process of fertilisation
Fertilisation restores chromosome number to the diploid state
Fertilisation increases genetic variation
Two types of seeds
Monocotyledons
Dicotyledons
Differences between the two types of seeds?
Monocot - one cotyledon, fibrous roots, scarred vascular, parallels veins in leaf, flower petals of multiples of 3.
Dicot - two cotyledons, tap roots, ringed vascular, net-like veins in leaf, flower petals of 4 or 5.
endospermic seed parts?
Embryo
Endosperm
Testa.
The importance of seed dehydrating
- Decreases metabolic rate of cells within the seed
- Conserves energy stores in cotyledons
- Increases duration that seed remains viable
- Enable seed to be classified as ‘dormant’ and exist until favourable conditions occur for germination
Definition of germination?
The process by which a seed emerges from a period of dormancy and begins to sprout. it involves the growth and development of the embryo root and embryo shoot.
What are gibberellins?
Plant ‘hormones’ essential for germination
Act as cell signalling molecules.
Hormones - plant growth regulators.
Graph of dry mass vs days explained.
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Definition of dormancy?
A state in which seeds are prevented from germinating even when under environmental conditions normally favourable for germination.
Advantages of seed dormancy?
- Prevent germination during short periods of favourable conditions.
- Ensure germination occurs when conditions are favourable for a sustained period.
- Allows seeds to survive in unfavourable conditions.
- Allows more time for seed dispersal
- Prevents germination before dispersal.