8. Reproduction in Plants

Sexual reproduction in plants is formation of new plants by fusion of male & female gametes.

Features:

1. Fusion of male & female gametes results in formation of zygote which forms the seed.
2. New plants are produced from seeds.
3. Flower is the reproductive organ of flowering plants.

Importance:

1. Increases genetic diversity.
2. Have a better survival rate.
3. They are less likely to be affected by various diseases.
4. Seeds can be dispersed to new areas.

To Remember:

• Sexual reproduction happens by fusion male & female gametes to form seeds.
•  Flowers are the reproductive organ.

There are five major steps in sexual reproduction of plants.

To understand each step in the process of sexual reproduction in plants, we need to understand the parts and structure of a flower.

Parts of flower are:

1. Stamen: 

• It is the male reproductive part of the flower.
• It consists of anther & filament.
• The anther consists of pollen grains which produce the male gametes.

2. Pistil: 

• It is the female reproductive part of the flower.
• It consists of a stigma, style and ovary.
• The ovary contains ovules
• The egg or female gamete is formed in the ovule. 

Diagram

To remember:

1. Main reproductive parts of flower are stamen & pistil.
2. Anther contains the pollen grains.
3. Ovary contains the ovules.

There are two types of flowers.

1.  Unisexual flowers:

• The flower contains either only pistil or only stamen.
• Thus the male & female flowers are separate.
• These flowers can be present on the same or different plants.
• Examples: corn, papaya, cucumber, papaya, bitter gourd, pumpkin, watermelon, coconut, etc.

2. Bisexual flowers:

• They contain both stamens & pistil in the same flower.
• Thus the male & female parts of the flower are on the same flower.
• Examples: mustard, rose, petunia, hibiscus, lily, tulip, mustard, tomato, beans, mango, sunflower, etc.

This flower contains both the stamen & pistil.

To remember:

1. Unisexual flowers have separate male & female flowers.
2. Bisexual flowers have both male & female parts in the same flower.