Table of Contents
Introduction
Seeds and fruits are formed by pregnancy. In angiosperms, two structures are formed as a result of double fertilization – the diploid zygote and the triploid main endosperm cell. The zygote develops into an embryo, while the endosperm cell produces an endosperm. It provides nutrients to the developing embryo. Both fruits and seeds are an important part of angiosperms.
Let’s take a closer look at the importance of fruits and seeds.
The Importance of Seed Formation
The following is the importance of seed formation:
- Reliable Approach: Seed formation is a reliable method. This is because pollen and the fertilization of seed plants do not need water.
- Perrenation: The seeds are dry and have a dormant embryo with a thick seed coat. Thus, it is appropriate for presentation during adverse conditions.
- Dispersion: Seeds have the ability to spread to new areas and grow there.
- Reserve Food: Seeds contain nutrients that are needed to feed young plants so that they can produce their own food.
- Changes: Seeds are produced by sexual reproduction. As a result, they carry with them a wide variety of adaptations that help them adapt to different environmental conditions.
- Storage: The seeds retain their food supply throughout the year, especially at bad times.
Seed and Fruit Construction – Seed Distribution
Reproduction is a biological process in which a young living person is produced by his or her parents. Generally, plants reproduce equally without seed formation or sexual reproduction i.e. seed formation. The parts of plants that are involved in sexual reproduction are called vegetable parts (e.g. leaves, roots, stems) and parts of plants that are involved in sexual reproduction are called reproductive parts (e.g. flower).
Let’s learn how a flower grows into fruit, seeds and different methods of seed dispersal.
Seed Construction
Seeds are formed when the fertilized ovule splits with mitosis. It stores food and has the potential to develop into a new plant under ideal conditions.
Fertilization is the process of combining the male gamete with the female gamete to form a zygote. Pollen grains are transmitted openly by various pollinating agents such as water, air, butterflies, insects, animals, birds, etc. After reaching mating, the male gametes mate with an egg in the ovule and form a zygote. Thus fertilization takes place and the zygote is formed and divides and grows into an embryo.
After fertilization, every part of the flower is shed outside the uterus. The flower ovary grows into fruit while the ovules grow into a seed. Seed formation eliminates the reproductive process in plants. Inside the seed, the growing embryo grows and matures.
- Seed Scattering: Fallen seeds may not always be sown by humans. They are dispersed by certain agents such as air, water, animals, etc. Seeds need enough sunlight, water, space, and minerals to grow properly. The distribution of seeds in different areas avoids the problem of competition for basic necessities and results in healthy crop growth. Seed dispersal occurs naturally as well as artificially. A botanist and gardener developed methods of seed distribution. The natural methods of seed dispersal are discussed below:
- Wind Distribution: Seeds of a few plants such as dandelions have feathery bristles and can be carried by the wind. These winds are in different directions. Few seeds fall into the right places to grow.
- Water Distribution: The seeds float in the water on the parent plant and disperse. For example, if a mangrove seed falls into the water, it is taken to cross streams to grow elsewhere.
- Animal Scatter: Animals disperse seeds in a variety of ways. A few plants produce seeds inside the fleshy flesh that the animal eats. The fruit is digested by animals and the seeds are passed through the digestive tract. Squirrels bury seeds but may not return to collect them. These seeds grow into a new plant.
The Importance of Fruit Formation
The following is the importance of fruit formation:
- Growing fruits protect the seeds from adverse conditions, mechanical damage and pests.
- Fruits aid in dispersing seeds in remote areas.
- Flesh fruits are eaten by animals that also propagate seeds elsewhere.
- Some fruits also provide nutrients for seed development and germination.
- Fruits are an important source of food, organic acids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and sugars.
Fruits provide nutrients for growing seeds. Fruits protect the seeds from immature conditions. Seeds serve as important organs for the distribution (units) of plants. Seeds and fruits form specialized resources for dispersing them and thus helping to propagate these species.
FAQ’s
What is Fertilization?
Seed formation begins with the union of the male and female gamete: a process known as fertilization. Fertilization, occurs when the male and female gametophytes are fully mature. This usually occurs in a dual-fertilization process known as double fertilization. When pollen grains set in stigma, they germinate by forming a pollen tube, which grows thinner in style, through the micropyle and into the embryo sac, with the nucleus of the tube following the tube apex. The nucleus of the tube breaks down, but two pollen cells enter the embryo sac, one joins the diploid polar nucleus to form the triploid endosperm nucleus and the other joins the egg yolk to form the diploid zygote or fertilized egg.
What are Gametes?
Plant sex cells are known as gametes. Plants have the sperm and egg cells needed to combine to produce the zygote to form a new plant. The ovary of a plant produces a female egg egg. The sperm cell is sealed with pollen. Plants have two stages of meiotic - haploid cells from male cells and haploid cells from women - forming a new plant diploid. In flowering plants, the male gamete inside the pollen is found in the anther. The male gamete in the anther are large cells that contain a nucleus. These cells pass through the meiotic division, forming tetrads, gametes and gametes - become pollen grains.
Q. What are the stages of seed germination?
Ans: Imbibition. The seed coat is puffy and soft as it absorbs water quickly. Think of dipped pea seeds: the outer seed coat becomes mushy and shriveled as water evaporates.
Temporary or late-stage period between two events. During this phase, the internal physiology of the sperm is activated, the cells breathe, and the seeds begin to produce protein and utilize food reserves.
The appearance of radicle and root. Cells begin to expand and divide, allowing the root and radicle of seeds to emerge.
