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    The Life Cycle of Plants

    Biology

    Study Guide
    • Study Guide
    • Topics
      • Introduction and Summary
      • Alternation of Generations
      • Problems
      • Fertilization
      • Problems
      • Vegetative Propagation
      • Problems
      • Grafting
      • Problems
    • Terms

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    Terms

    Terms
    • Alternation of Generations

      The fluctuation between the diploid (sporophyte) and haploid (gametophyte) life stages that occurs in plants.

    • Angiosperm

      A vascular flowering plant in which seeds are enclosed inside of protective ovaries.

    • Archegonium

      The female sex organ of terrestrial plants; where egg cells are produced.

    • Bryophyte

      A lower terrestrial plant (often a moss or liverwort) that lacks a vascular system and is dependent on environmental moisture for reproductive and nutritive functions.

    • Bulb

      Roughly spherical underground bud containing additional buds that can develop asexually into new plants. A form of vegetative propagation.

    • Cross-pollination

      The process, occurring in most angiosperms, by which the male gametes of one plant (carried by pollen grains) fertilize the eggs of another.

    • Diploid

      Having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

    • Double Fertilization

      The mechanism of angiosperm fertilization that involves the joining of haploid gametes to create a diploid zygote, and the simultaneous joining of a second sperm cell with a fusion nucleus to create a triploid nucleus (which becomes endosperm).

    • Endosperm

      A substance, formed from a triploid nucleus in angiosperm reproduction, that nourishes a developing embryo within a seed.

    • Fragmentation

      A form of vegetative propagation in which a severed plant part develops into a whole new plant.

    • Fusion Nucleus

      The diploid product formed by the joining of the two polar nuclei in the angiosperm ovule.

    • Gamete

      A haploid sex cell (either an egg or sperm cell); male and female gametes join during fertilization to create a diploid zygote.

    • Gametophyte

      A haploid plant or plant structure that produces haploid gametes through mitosis.

    • Grafting

      An artificial form of vegetative propagation in which parts of two young plants are joined together, first by artificial means and then by tissue regeneration.

    • Gymnosperm

      A vascular non-flowering plant (commonly known as a conifer) in which seeds are not protected by an ovary.

    • Haploid

      Having only one set of chromosomes.

    • Heterospory

      The reproductive phenomenon, characteristic of gymnosperms and angiosperms, whereby spores of two distinct sexes are produced; these spores develop into sex-specific gametophytes.

    • Megaspore

      Female spore; gives rise to a female gametophyte.

    • Meiosis

      Cell division that results in cells with half the chromosomes of the parent cell.

    • Microspore

      Male spore; gives rise to a male gametophyte.

    • Ovary

      In plants, the protective structure that holds the ovules and surrounds the angiosperm seed; after fertilization, develops into a fruit.

    • Ovule

      Structure that contains the female gametophyte and gametes; after fertilization, develops into a seed.

    • Pistil

      The female reproductive organ of the flower, composed of a stigma, style, and ovary; sometimes called the carpel.

    • Polar Nuclei

      Two nuclei, contained within the same cell, that are created from the mitotic division of the megaspore during angiosperm reproduction; unite in the ovule to form a fusion nucleus, which gives rise to endosperm when fertilized.

    • Pollen Grain

      The male gametophyte of gymnosperms and angiosperms.

    • Pollen Tube

      The outgrowth of a pollen grain that creates a path through the female sex organ in order to penetrate to the egg cells.

    • Runner

      Slender horizontal stem that can give rise, via specialized nodes, to new plants.

    • Scale Leaf

      Very small structure on the surface of a tuber that contains a bud from which a new plant can arise.

    • Scion

      Twig or bud that is grafted onto a plant with roots (called the stock) and develops into a new shoot system.

    • Self-pollination

      The process by which the male gametes of a plant fertilize the eggs of the same plant.

    • Sporangium

      The part of a plant where spores are produced.

    • Spore

      Haploid cell from which a gametophyte is produced.

    • Sporophyte

      A diploid plant or plant structure that produces haploid spores through meiosis.

    • Stigma

      The top part of the pistil, where pollen grains are received.

    • Stock

      Plant with a root system onto which a twig or bud from another plant (called a scion) is grafted.

    • Tracheophyte

      A terrestrial plant with a vascular system.

    • Triploid

      Having three sets of chromosomes.

    • Tuber

      Fleshy underground storage structure, composed of an enlarged portion of the stem, that has on its surface buds capable of producing new plants.

    • Vascular System

      Mechanism of internal water and nutrient transport, characteristic of tracheophytes; made up of the vascular tissues xylem and phloem.

    • Vascular Tissue

      A conductive component (either xylem or phloem) of the system that transports food and nutrients throughout the plant body.

    • Vegetative Propagation

      A form of asexual reproduction in which plants produce genetically identical offshoots (clones) of themselves, which then develop into independent plants.

    • Zygote

      The diploid product of fertilization that develops into an embryo.

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