Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants – Notes, Topics, Formulas, Equations, Books, Question & Answers

Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Oct 08, 2024 04:46 PM IST

Sexual reproduction in flowering plants requires both male and female gametes, and the process of such reproduction involves different parts of the flower. It also requires external vectors that release pollen. Reading the whole chapter before the exam takes time as students have to learn other things. Sexual Reproduction In Flowering Plants is one of the most important topics in biology. The chapter carries a weightage of 12% of the total marks in NEET and 8-9% of the weightage of other entrance exams like Paramedical and Pharmacy.

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Reproductive Structure of Flowering Plants
Pollination In Flowering Plants
Fertilisation in Flowering Plants
Types of Questions Asked from Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Reproductive Structure of Flowering Plants

The flower is called the reproductive organ of the plant, which includes both the male and female reproductive organs. These gametes are responsible for the reproduction of the plants. Some important parts of the flowering plants are tabulated below:

Reproductive organs	Explanation
Androecium (Male)	Contains stamens and helps in the restoration and production of pollen.
Stamen	Made up of filament and another.
Filament	The stem-like structure that supports another.
Anther	Produces pollen grains
Microsporogenesis	Responsible for the formation of microspores inside the microspore of the mother cells. These microspores are developed into male gametophytes.
Gynoecium (Female Organ)	The female reproductive organ produces ovules and eggs. This is made up of stigma, style and ovaries.
Stigma	The front part of the Carpels The first organ to interact with pollen.
Style	Connects stigma to the ovary. Helps in transferring the pollens.
Ovary	Contains ovules where eggs are produced.
Megasporogenesis	The formation of megaspores takes place through meiosis inside the megasporangium. One megasporangium is finally developed into female gametophytes. The rest of them are destroyed.

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Pollination In Flowering Plants

Pollination is an external process that involves the transfer of pollen grains from anther to stigma. There are two types of pollination - self-pollination and cross-pollination. There are certain differences between self-pollination and cross-pollination Both of them are discussed below in the table:

Self- Pollination	Cross-Pollination
Transfer of pollen grains takes place within anther stigma of the same flower or another flower of the same plant.	Transfer of pollen grains takes place from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower or another plant but of the same species.
No external agents are required. Takes place within the same species or same flower.	Has external agents such as wind, insects, or animals.
Limited genetic variation as the pollen grain comes from the same plant or Species.	Results into genetic variation as pollen grains are transferred from different plants.

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Fertilisation in Flowering Plants

Fertilisation occurs after cooling when pollen grains reach the ovary. Here, the male gamete combines with the female gamete, the ovule, to form a zygote. The ovary turns into a fruit, and the fertile ovules turn into seeds. Reproduction can also be done separately. They undergo a different process called Double fertilization. Detailed discussion is mentioned below:

Flowering plants have a different type of fertilization known as double fertilization where there is the formation of a zygote after fertilization of the egg and sperm.
Two polar nuclei are formed to form an endosperm which nourishes the embryo.
One sperm is fertilized in the egg cell of the pollen tube which results in the formation of a diploid zygote. This is further developed into embryos.
The second sperm cell gets fertilized at the central cell containing two polar nuclei which form a triploid endosperm.
After fertilization the ovule matures and the seed containing the embryo is developed into fruit.

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Types of Questions Asked from Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

During the preparation of the exam, there are different types of questions asked in different forms. The table given below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Exam Type	Types of Questions Asked	Weightage
CBSE	Structure of flower (androecium and gynoecium). Pollination types (self and cross-pollination). Double fertilization and its significance. Seed and fruit development. Gametogenesis (microsporogenesis and megasporogenesis).	10%
NEET	Structure and function of male and female reproductive organs. Pollination mechanisms (agents of pollination, adaptations). Double fertilization and post-fertilization changes. Formation of seeds and fruits. Types of pollination (advantages and disadvantages). Mechanisms of preventing self-pollination (e.g., dichogamy, herkogamy).	10%
Paramedical	Role of reproductive structures in plant breeding. Applications of genetics in improving sexual reproduction. Role of pollination in agriculture and horticulture. Clinical techniques for studying reproductive biology (e.g., microscopy of pollen grains, ovule development). Importance of seed and fruit formation in the plant life cycle.	7%

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Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

It's hard to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants are given below which you can use to memorize the important points.

Parts of the Flower

"SCOPA: Sepals, Carpels, Ovary, Petals, Androecium"

S: Sepals (protect the flower in bud stage)
C: Carpels (female reproductive part, includes stigma, style, ovary)
O: Ovary (contains ovules, develops into fruit)
P: Petals (attract pollinators)
A: Androecium (male reproductive part, produces pollen)

2. Types of Pollination

"SS-WC: Self-Sufficient, Wind-Cross"

S: Self-pollination (within the same flower/plant)
S: Self-incompatibility (prevents self-pollination in some plants)
W: Wind pollination (pollen transferred by wind)
C: Cross-pollination (pollen from one plant fertilizes another)

3. Double Fertilization Steps

"PET-NZ: Pollen, Embryo, Triploid, Zygote"

P: Pollen tube forms after pollen lands on stigma
E: Embryo develops from one sperm cell fusing with the egg
T: Triploid endosperm forms from the other sperm cell
Z: Zygote forms from sperm and egg fusion

4. Male Reproductive Parts (Androecium)

"FAST: Filament, Anther, Stamen, Pollen"

F: Filament (supports the anther)
A: Anther (produces pollen grains)
S: Stamen (unit of the androecium)
T: Pollen (male gametophyte)

5. Female Reproductive Parts (Gynoecium)

"SOS: Stigma, Ovary, Style"

S: Stigma (receives pollen)
O: Ovary (contains ovules)
S: Style (connects stigma and ovary)

6. Megasporogenesis Process

"MMEO: Mother, Megaspore, Embryo, Ovule"

M: Megaspore Mother Cell undergoes meiosis
M: Megaspore develops
E: Embryo sac forms from the functional megaspore
O: Ovule contains the embryo sac and female gametophyte

7. Seed Development Stages

"FED: Fertilization, Endosperm, Dormancy"

F: Fertilization of egg and sperm
E: Endosperm nourishes the embryo
D: Dormancy of seed until favourable conditions arise for germination

8. Fertilization and Post-Fertilization Changes

"FES: Fertilization, Embryo, Seed"

F: Fertilization of male and female gametes
E: Embryo formation in the ovule
S: Seed formation and fruit development from the ovary

Also Read

Difference between Male Gametophyte and Female Gametophyte	Entomophily - Pollination by Insects
Pistil and Megasporangium	Ornithophily - Pollination by Birds
Abiotic Agents of Pollination	Reproduction In Plants

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Name the various stages of the plant life cycle.

The different stages of the plant life cycle are - seed phase, germination, growth, reproduction, pollination, seed dispersal.The reproductive cycle of flowering plants also includes - pollination, pollen growth and the male gamete meets the female gamete.

2. What Are the Different Types of Pollination?

Pollination can be of two types:

Self-pollination
cross-pollination.

3. What Are the Main Parts of a Plant Reproductive Structure?

The main components of the plant's reproductive structure - sepals, petals, carpels, and stamen. The stamens that make up the male genitalia and the carpels that make up the female genital tract are also important.

4. Which are the main events of sexual reproduction in flowering plants?

i)Pollination

ii)fertilisation

iii)seedling

iv)embryo

5. What are the events that are compulsory during all types of reproduction?

Event (i) It requires two types of gametes.

Event(ii) Fertilisation is a compulsory event.

Event(iii) It always results in the formation of zygotes.

Event(iv) Clones of offspring are formed.