plant life cycle

• Plant Life Cycle

  1. Seed Stage

  2. Germination

  3. Seedling Stage

  4. Vegetative Growth

  5. Reproductive Stage

  6. Fruit and Seed Formation

  7. Seed Dispersal

  8. Seed Dormancy

  9. Germination (again)
• Seed


  The life of a plant begins as a seed, inside which is an embryo with all the genetic material needed for the plant to grow
• Germination


  1. Seed gets enough water, oxygen, and warmth

  2. Embryo inside the seed starts to grow, sending out a root (radicle) and a shoot
• Seedling


  • Develops roots, stems, and leaves
  • Roots anchor the plant in the soil and absorb water and nutrients
  • Stem supports the plant and transports water and nutrients to the leaves
  • Leaves use sunlight to produce food for the plant through photosynthesis
• Vegetative Growth


  • Plant focuses on growing larger and establishing its structure
  • Roots continue to grow, expanding the root system
  • Stems elongate, and new leaves and branches form
• Reproductive Stage


  1. Plant produces flowers

  2. Flowers contain the reproductive organs: the pistil (female) and stamen (male)

  3. Pollination occurs when pollen from the stamen reaches the pistil

  4. After successful pollination, the ovary at the base of the pistil develops into a fruit, and ovules within it develop into seeds
• Fruit and Seed Formation


  1. Fertilized ovules develop into seeds inside the ovary

  2. Ovary may also develop into a fruit, which protects the seeds and aids in their dispersal
• Seed Dispersal


  1. Seeds need to be dispersed away from the parent plant to avoid competition for resources

  2. Dispersal methods include wind, water, animals, and explosive mechanisms
• Seed Dormancy


  Some seeds enter a period of dormancy, where they remain inactive until conditions are suitable for germination
• Cones are the parts of some seed plants where reproduction occurs. Cones do not develop into fruit.
• Pollen


  Powder-like material involved in plant reproduction
• Pollination


  Pollen is moved from the male plant part to the female plant part
• Pistil


  The female part of the plant, where the seeds form
• Stamen


  The male part of the plant
• Spores


  Reproductive structures that can grow into new plants
• Ferns


  • Reproduce using spores
  • Have leaves called FRONDS, each with smaller leaves
• Diplontic (or Diplontic Life Cycle)


  1. Dominant multicellular stage is diploid (2n)

  2. Gametes are the only haploid (n) stage

  3. After fertilization, the zygote undergoes mitosis to produce a multicellular diploid organism (sporophyte)
• Stages of Diplontic Life Cycle

  • Gametes (n)
  • Zygote (2n)
  • Sporophyte (2n)
  • Spores (n)
• Haplontic (or Haplontic Life Cycle)


  1. Dominant multicellular stage is haploid (n)

  2. Diploid stage is represented only by the zygote, which immediately undergoes meiosis to produce haploid cells
• Stages of Haplontic Life Cycle

  • Gametophyte (n)
  • Gametes (n)
  • Zygote (2n)
• Haplo-Diplontic (or Haplo-Diplontic Life Cycle)


  1. Both haploid (n) and diploid (2n) multicellular stages are present and are both multicellular and free-living

  2. Haploid stage produces gametes, and diploid stage produces spores
• Stages of Haplo-Diplontic Life Cycle

  • Gametophyte (n)
  • Gametes (n)
  • Zygote (2n)
  • Sporophyte (2n)
  • Spores (n)