Slide 1

  • Reproduction
    • Introduction
  • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
    • Self Incompatibility

Slide 2

  • Reproduction
    • Process by which new individuals of the same species are produced
  • Types of Reproduction
    • Sexual Reproduction
    • Asexual Reproduction

Slide 3

  • Sexual Reproduction
    • Involves the fusion of gametes
    • Genetic variation in offspring
    • Requires the involvement of male and female reproductive organs

Slide 4

  • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
    • Structure of a Flower
      • Sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil
    • Pistil
      • Stigma, style, and ovary

Slide 5

  • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
    • Pollination
      • Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma
      • Can be self-pollination or cross-pollination
    • Fertilization
      • Fusion of the male and female gametes

Slide 6

  • Self Incompatibility
    • Mechanism that prevents self-fertilization in flowering plants
  • Types of Self Incompatibility Systems
    • Gametophytic Self Incompatibility (GSI)
    • Sporophytic Self Incompatibility (SSI)

Slide 7

  • Gametophytic Self Incompatibility (GSI)
    • Controlled by the genotype of the pollen grains
    • Pollen with the same allele as the stigma is rejected
  • Example
    • Brassica species

Slide 8

  • Sporophytic Self Incompatibility (SSI)
    • Controlled by the genotype of the stigma
    • Pollen with the same allele as the stigma is rejected
  • Example
    • Solanaceae family, including tomato and potato

Slide 9

  • Molecular Basis of Self Incompatibility
    • Recognition and rejection mechanisms
    • Involves specific recognition proteins on the stigma surface
  • Example
    • SI-RLK (Self-Incompatibility Receptor-Like Kinase) gene in Brassica and Papaver

Slide 10

  • Significance of Self Incompatibility
    • Prevents inbreeding depression
    • Promotes genetic diversity
    • Helps maintain a healthy and adaptable population

Slide 11

  • Pollination Mechanisms
    • Wind-Pollinated Flowers
      • Small, inconspicuous flowers
      • Large, feathery stigma to maximize pollen capture
      • Abundant pollen production
      • Examples: grasses, conifers
    • Insect-Pollinated Flowers
      • Brightly colored petals, fragrance, and nectar to attract insects
      • Sticky or feathery stigma to facilitate pollen transfer
      • Examples: roses, lilies
    • Bird-Pollinated Flowers
      • Brightly colored, tubular flowers with no fragrance
      • Large, sticky stigma to prevent pollen loss
      • Examples: hummingbird-pollinated flowers

Slide 12

  • Double Fertilization in Angiosperms
    • Unique to flowering plants
    • Involves the fusion of two male gametes with two female gametes
    • One male gamete fertilizes the egg cell to form the zygote
    • The other male gamete fuses with the two polar nuclei to form the endosperm (triploid)

Slide 13

  • Double Fertilization in Angiosperms (contd.)
    • Endosperm Development
      • Provides nourishment to the developing embryo
      • Stores nutrients for seed germination
      • Examples: wheat, rice, corn
    • Significance of Double Fertilization
      • Ensures the synchrony between embryo and endosperm development
      • Optimizes resource allocation for seed growth and germination

Slide 14

  • Development of Fruit
    • Ovary wall thickens and matures after fertilization
    • Forms the fruit, which protects the developing seeds
    • Types of Fruits
      • Simple fruits: derived from a single ovary
        • Examples: peach, cherry
      • Aggregate fruits: derived from several ovaries in a single flower
        • Examples: raspberry, blackberry
      • Multiple fruits: derived from several flowers in an inflorescence
        • Examples: pineapple, fig

Slide 15

  • Seed Dispersal
    • Importance of Seed Dispersal
      • Prevents competition among parent and offspring
      • Colonizes new habitats
      • Examples: wind, water, animals
    • Methods of Seed Dispersal
      • Wind: dandelion seeds, maple seeds
      • Water: coconut seeds, water lilies
      • Animals: burrs sticking to fur, consumed and excreted seeds

Slide 16

  • Germination of Seeds
    • Activation of dormant seed to resume growth
    • Required Conditions for Germination
      • Water availability
      • Adequate temperature
      • Oxygen availability
    • Steps of Seed Germination
      • Water uptake by the seed
      • Activation of enzymes for metabolism
      • Emergence of the radicle (embryonic root)

Slide 17

  • Germination of Seeds (contd.)
    • Seed Germination Process
      • Radicle develops into the primary root
      • Shoot system grows above the ground
      • Cotyledons (seed leaves) function as temporary storage organs
      • Leaves start photosynthesis for energy production
    • Examples
      • Monocots: one cotyledon (e.g., maize, wheat)
      • Dicots: two cotyledons (e.g., beans, peas)

Slide 18

  • Significance of Seed Germination
    • Replenishes plant populations
    • Establishes new plants in favorable environments
    • Enables plant survival and reproduction
    • Examples: forests, agricultural fields

Slide 19

  • Factors Affecting Reproduction in Flowering Plants
    • Environmental Factors
      • Temperature: affects germination, flowering, and pollen viability
      • Light: regulates flowering and direction of growth
      • Water availability: crucial for seed germination
    • Biotic Factors
      • Pollinators: essential for sexual reproduction in insect-pollinated flowers
      • Herbivores: can damage flowers, reduce seed production

Slide 20

  • Summary
    • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
      • Involves the fusion of gametes
      • Pollination and fertilization are key steps
      • Self-incompatibility systems prevent self-fertilization
    • Double Fertilization and Fruit Development
      • Unique to angiosperms
      • Forms the zygote and endosperm
      • Ovary wall develops into a protective fruit
    • Seed Dispersal and Germination
      • Ensures effective colonization and growth of offspring
      • Germination requires water, temperature, and oxygen availability

Slide 21

  • Environmental Factors Affecting Reproduction (contd.)
    • Edaphic Factors
      • Soil characteristics: affect nutrient availability for plant growth and reproduction
      • Soil pH: influences nutrient uptake and availability
    • Climatic Factors
      • Rainfall: affects seed germination and flowering
      • Humidity: influences pollen viability and pollen tube growth
      • Wind: aids in pollination and seed dispersal

Slide 22

  • Biotic Factors Affecting Reproduction
    • Mutualistic Interactions
      • Pollinators: bees, butterflies, birds
        • Example: Bee pollinating a flower
      • Dispersers: animals that eat fruits and disperse seeds
        • Example: Squirrel burying an acorn
    • Antagonistic Interactions
      • Herbivores: animals that eat plant tissues
        • Example: Caterpillar feeding on leaves
      • Pathogens: microorganisms causing disease in plants
        • Example: Fungal infection on a plant leaf

Slide 23

  • Hormonal Regulation of Reproduction
    • Plant Hormones Involved
      • Auxins: promote flowering, fruit development, and seed germination
      • Gibberellins: stimulate flowering and seed germination
      • Cytokinins: influence cell division and differentiation
      • Abscisic Acid: inhibits seed germination
      • Ethylene: promotes fruit ripening and leaf senescence

Slide 24

  • Hormonal Regulation of Reproduction (contd.)
    • Photoperiodism
      • Photoperiod: duration of light and dark periods in a day
      • Influences flowering in many plants
      • Short-Day Plants: flower when the day length is shorter than a critical value
        • Example: Chrysanthemum
      • Long-Day Plants: flower when the day length is longer than a critical value
        • Example: Spinach
      • Day-Neutral Plants: flower independently of day length
        • Example: Tomato

Slide 25

  • Gametogenesis
    • Formation of male and female gametes
    • Male Gametogenesis: Spermatogenesis
      • Occurs in the testes
      • Spermatogonia → Primary spermatocytes → Secondary spermatocytes → Spermatids → Spermatozoa
    • Female Gametogenesis: Oogenesis
      • Occurs in the ovaries
      • Oogonia → Primary oocytes → Secondary oocyte + Polar body → Ovum

Slide 26

  • Embryogenesis
    • Embryo Development in Angiosperms
      • Occurs after fertilization
      • Zygote → Embryo
      • Embryo development involves different stages, including:
        • Globular stage
        • Heart-shaped stage
        • Torpedo stage
        • Cotyledonary stage
        • Mature embryo stage

Slide 27

  • Structure of a Seed
    • Seed Coat: outer protective layer
    • Endosperm: provides nourishment to the developing embryo
    • Embryo: consists of embryonic leaves (cotyledons) and a radicle
    • Examples: maize seed, bean seed

Slide 28

  • Regulation of Reproduction in Plants
    • Photoperiodic Control
      • Flowering is regulated by the relative duration of light and dark periods
      • Controlled by the photoreceptor protein Phytochrome
    • Vernalization
      • Exposure to low temperatures stimulates flowering
      • Overcomes seed dormancy and promotes flowering

Slide 29

  • Economic Importance of Reproduction in Plants
    • Agriculture
      • Crop production and improvement rely on plant reproduction
      • Techniques like artificial pollination and hybridization are used to improve crop traits
    • Horticulture
      • Flower production and landscaping depend on plant reproduction
      • Techniques like grafting and tissue culture are used for propagation
    • Conservation
      • Conservation and preservation of rare and endangered plant species
      • Ex situ conservation methods involve seed banking and tissue culture preservation

Slide 30

  • Conclusion
    • Sexual reproduction in flowering plants involves the fusion of gametes and leads to genetic diversity in offspring.
    • Self-incompatibility systems prevent self-fertilization and maintain genetic variability within populations.
    • Pollination, double fertilization, and fruit development are essential processes in the reproductive cycle of angiosperms.
    • Seed dispersal and germination ensure the establishment and survival of plant offspring in new habitats.
    • Factors like environmental conditions, biotic interactions, and hormonal regulation influence plant reproduction.
    • Understanding the mechanisms of plant reproduction is crucial for agriculture, horticulture, and conservation efforts.