Reproduction, sexual or asexual, is a means of survival of a particular species on the face of a planet. Angiosperms have many ways of reproducing themselves. It is of no surprise that the sex organs of a plant are in their flowers.
Introduction:
Reproduction, sexual or asexual, is a means of survival of a particular species on the face of a planet. Angiosperms have many ways of reproducing themselves. It is of no surprise that the sex organs of a plant are in their flowers. Two major organs being: ovary and the anthers. Pollen is found primarily on the anthers, pollen [male gametophyte] is so widespread that we can find it almost everywhere, in the air we breathe, the soil we walk on etc. Physically it looks like a yellow, white or blue powdery substance. Pollen develops within the anther and after attaining maturity falls [by the means of air currents etc] onto the receptive stigma. The stored ‘goodies’ and RNA kick into action and start the most probably the most rapid growth of any plant cell. A tube known as the pollen tube grows from each pollen grain. This pollen tube grows toward the embryo sac. Eventually two sperm cells are deposited into the embryo sac where they fuse with the egg and form a zygote. Pollen germination is one of the most important processes insuring that a zygote is formed and the plant species continues and does not become extinct. Pollen germination is the stage when the pollen falls on the stigma and start growing the pollen tube. This process is vital since the ovary is located at the very bottom of the anther and is concealed from all 4 sides, making it almost impossible for the sperms cell to find the ovary on their own. Pollen germination is kind of like an oil rig drilling toward the ovary to deliver the sperm cells.
