plant reproduction general definitions

• what is meant by a tapetum

  this is a layer of cells that surrounds the pollen sac
• what is the function of the tapetum

  it provides nutrients and regulatory molecules to the developing pollen grains
• what is the pollen tube nucleus

  this is the nucleus that will contain the genetic information for hydrolytic enzymes
• what is the function of hydrolytic enzymes

  to digest a path through the style
• what is a generative nucleus

  this is a nucleus that undergoes mitosis to form two male nuclei
• what is an exine

  this is the tough outer wall of a pollen grain
• what is meant by dehiscence

  this is the release of pollen when the anther dries out
• what happens to the anther in order for the pollen to be released


  tension will pull the walls of the anther apart and teh edges of the pollen sac will curl away
• what is meant by a megaspore

  this is a haploid cell which undergoes mitosis three times
• what is formed from the megaspore undergoing mitosis three time

  8 haploid nuclei
• what do the 8 haploid nuclei formed from the megaspore consist of

  3 antipodals, 2 synergids , 2 polar nuclei and 1 female gamete
• what is pollinaiton


  the transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma
• what is double ferilisation

  this is when one male gamete fuses with the female gamete and a second male gamete will fuse with two polar nuclei
• in double fertilisation what is formed when one male gamete fuses with a female gamete

  a diploid zygote
• in double fertilisation what is formed when one male gamete fuses with two polar nuclei

  a triploid primary endosperm nucleus
• what is a endosperm

  a food-storing tissue of the seed
• what happens to the endosperm of a dicotyledon


  it will fuse with the cotyledon
• what is the testa


  this is the tough outer coat of a seed
• what forms the testa

  the integuments
• what is a cotyledon

  a seed leaf
• What is gibberellin?


  a plant hormone involved in germination of monocotyledons
• What is the aleurone layer?

  this is a protein layer
• in what kind of cotyledons will aleurone layer be found

  in monocotyledon seeds
• what will happen to the aleurone layer

  it will be digested to provide amino acids for protein synthesis