Reproduction in Plants

• (a) Production of new individuals from the vegetative part of parent is called vegetative propagation.
• (b) A flower may have either male or female reproductive parts. Such a flower is called unisexual.
• (c) The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same or of another flower of the same kind is known as pollination.
• (d) The fusion of male and female gametes is termed as fertilisation.
• (e) Seed dispersal takes place by means of wind, water and animals.

1. Vegetative Propagation: New plants are produced from roots, stems, leaves and buds. E.g. Potato (eyes), Rose (stem cutting).
2. Budding: A small bulb-like projection coming out from the yeast cell is called a bud. It detaches and forms a new yeast cell. E.g. Yeast.
3. Fragmentation: An alga breaks up into two or more fragments. These fragments grow into new individuals. E.g. Spirogyra.
4. Spore Formation: Spores are asexual reproductive bodies. Under favourable conditions, a spore germinates and develops into a new individual. E.g. Fungus (Bread mould), Fern.

Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes to form a new individual. In plants, flowers are the reproductive parts. Stamens are male reproductive parts and Pistil is the female reproductive part.

(Ref: Textbook Diagram)

• Stamen: Anther, Filament.
• Pistil: Stigma, Style, Ovary.

• Self-pollination: Pollen lands on the stigma of the same flower.
• Cross-pollination: Pollen lands on the stigma of another flower of the same plant or of a different plant of the same kind.

1. Pollen grain lands on stigma.
2. It grows a pollen tube which travels through style to the ovary.
3. Male gamete travels down the tube.
4. Male gamete fuses with the female gamete (egg) in the ovule. This is fertilisation.
5. Zygote is formed.

1. By Wind: Seeds are light, have wings or hair. E.g. Drumstick, Maple, Aak (Madar), Sunflower.
2. By Water: Seeds have spongy or fibrous coat to float. E.g. Coconut.
3. By Animals: Seeds have hooks/spines to stick to fur. E.g. Xanthium.
4. By Explosion: Fruits burst with sudden jerk. E.g. Castor, Balsam.

(a) The reproductive part of a plant is the: (iv) flower.

(b) The process of fusion of the male and the female gametes is called: (i) fertilisation.

(c) Mature ovary forms the: (iv) fruit.

(d) A spore producing organism is: (ii) bread mould.

(e) Bryophyllum can reproduce by its: (iii) leaves.

The cell which results from the fusion of the gametes (fertilisation) is called a zygote. It develops into an embryo.

• Vegetative Propagation: From Root (Sweet potato), Stem (Potato, Ginger), Leaf (Bryophyllum). Artificial: Cutting (Rose), Grafting.
• Budding: Bulb-like projection (Bud) grows and detaches. (Yeast).
• Fragmentation: Body breaks into pieces. Each piece grows. (Spirogyra/Algae).
• Spore Formation: Spores are hard-walled reproductive bodies. Germinate in moist conditions. (Fungi/Ferns).

• Flower: Reproductive part.
• Unisexual: Only male OR female part. (Corn, Papaya, Cucumber).
• Bisexual: Both male AND female parts. (Mustard, Rose, Petunia).
• Stamen (Male): Anther (produces pollen) + Filament.
• Pistil (Female): Stigma (sticky top) + Style (tube) + Ovary (base, contains ovules).

• Pollination: Transfer of pollen from Anther to Stigma. Agents: Wind, Water, Insects.
• Fertilisation: Fusion of Male gamete + Female gamete (Egg) -> Zygote.
• Post-Fertilisation: Ovary -> Fruit. Ovules -> Seeds. Zygote -> Embryo.

Prevents overcrowding and competition for light, water and minerals.

• Wind: Drumstick, Maple (Winged). Aak, Sunflower (Hairy).
• Water: Coconut (Fibrous, floats).
• Animals: Xanthium (Spiny hooks).
• Explosion: Castor, Balsam.

• Zygote: The fertilized egg formed by fusion of gametes.
• Embryo: The baby plant inside the seed, developed from zygote.
• Gametes: Reproductive cells. Male gamete (in pollen) and Female gamete (in ovule).
• Vegetative Buds: Buds on stems/leaves that can give rise to new plants.

• Flowers are the reproductive parts of a plant.
• Yeast is single-celled and reproduces very fast by budding.
• Pollen grains have a tough protective coat to prevent them from drying up.
• Watermelon and Papaya produce unisexual flowers.