Reproduction (Flowering Plants)

Question 1

What is the process called where plants transfer the male gametes (pollen) from the anther to the stigma?

Answer 1

Pollination

Question 2

What are the two different methods of pollination flowers will use?

Answer 2

Insect pollination
Wind pollination

Question 3

What is the function of the sepal?

Answer 3

To protect the flower when it was an unopened flower

The sepal is the green leaf looking structure near the base of the flower

Question 4

What are the functions of the petals?

Answer 4

In insect pollinated plants, these are brightly coloured to attract insects

Question 5

What is the male reproductive system in a flower called?

Answer 5

The stamen

Question 6

What is the part of the male reproductive system in a flower called which produces and releases the male sex cell?

Answer 6

The anther

Question 7

What is the structure which holds the anther up called?

Answer 7

The filament

Question 8

What is the female reproductive system in a flower called?

Answer 8

The carpel

Question 9

What is the funtion of the style?

Answer 9

To support and connect the stigma and the ovary, allowing for a pollen tube to grow between them inside of the style

Question 10

What is the part of the female reproductive system in a flower called which collects the pollen grains?

Answer 10

The stigma

Question 11

What is the function of the ovary?

Answer 11

It produces the female sex cell (the ovum)

Question 12

What is the function of the ovule?

Answer 12

The ovules are found inside the ovary, and contain the female sex cells (the ova)

The ova will develop into seeds after fertilisation

Question 13

How does the process of insect pollination work?

Answer 13

Insects visit the flowers attracted by the nectar, scent and petals

The insects body may brush with the anther when looking for nectar, and the pollen will stick to its body

When it then visits another flower (or the same one), it may brush up against the stigma in search for nectar, depositing pollen in the stigma, leading to fertilisation

Question 14

How are insect pollinated flowers adapted for pollination?

Answer 14

Large and brightly coloured petals to attract insects

Nectar and scent to attract insects and make them brush past the anther and stigma in search of it

Large, sticky/spiky pollen grains in order to attach to insects

The stigma is inside the flower and is sticky so pollen grains stick to it when an insect brushes past

The anthers are inside the flower and are firmly attached to the flower as insects brush past them

The number of pollen grains produced are moderate as this type of pollination is efficient

Question 15

How does the process of wind pollination work?

Answer 15

When ready, the anthers open and shed their pollen into the wind

It then, by chance, lands on the stigma of a plant of the same species

Question 16

How are wind pollinated flowers adapted for pollination?

Answer 16

small and dull petals, often brown or green

no nectar, waste of energy, as insects aren’t necessary

Large amounts of pollen as most aren’t transferred so the more there are the better the chance of success

Small and light pollen so they’re blown easily

thin and loose, outside the flower to release pollen easily

Feathery stigma outside the flower to catch pollen

Question 17

What triggers the growth of a pollen tube inside of a style?

Answer 17

A grain of pollen landing on the stigma of a plant of the same species

Question 18

What happens following the growth of a pollen tube?

Answer 18

The nucleus inside the pollen grain moves down the tube as the tube grows down the style towards the ovary

Once the nucleus of the pollen grain and the nucleus of the ovum have fused (joined together), that particular ovule has been fertilised and a zygote has been formed

Question 19

How are seeds and fruits formed following fertilisation?

Answer 19

After fertilisation, the ovule (that contains the zygote) develops into the seed

The wall of the ovule develops into the seed coat, known as the testa

The parts of the flower surrounding the ovule develop into the fruit, which contains the seeds

Question 20

What are the factors required for seed germination?

Answer 20

Water - allows the seed to swell up, which causes the testa to burst, allowing the growing embryo plant to exit the seed

Oxygen - required for respiration, so that energy can be released for germination

Warmth - germination improves as temperature rises (up to a certain point) as the reactions which take place are controlled by enzymes

Question 21

How do germinating seeds aquire nutrients and energy before they are able to grow their own leaves?

Answer 21

Structures known as cotyledons surround the embryo

The cotyledons contain food reserves that supply the young seedling with food (and, therefore, energy for growth) when the seed starts to germinate

Question 22

What are the two methods of asexual reproduction in plants?

Answer 22

Natural
Human Controlled

Question 23

How do runners work in plants?

Answer 23

Some plants grow side branches, known as runners, that have small plantlets at their ends

Once they touch the soil, these plantlets will grow roots and the new plantlets will grow and become independent from the parent plant

Question 24

How are cuttings used for plant asexual reproduction?

Answer 24

Gardeners take cuttings from good parent plants

This cutting can either be placed into water until new roots grow or can sometimes be placed directly into soil

These cuttings are then planted and eventually grow into adult plants that are genetically identical to the original plant