Table of Contents
What is Ovule?
Components of Ovule: An ovule is a structure in a flowering plant that contains the female reproductive cells. The ovules are located in the ovary of the plant, and after fertilization by a sperm cell, they develop into the seeds of the plant.
Components of an Ovule
The ovule is a structure in the female reproductive system that contains the female gametes, or eggs. The ovule consists of the ovary, the stigma, the style, and the ovule itself. The ovary is the organ, eggs produce in it. The stigma is the sticky structure on the top of the ovary that the pollen attaches to. The style is the stalk that connects the stigma to the ovule. The ovule is the structure at the end of the style that contains the eggs.
Types of Ovules
There are three types of ovules:
1. The integumentary ovule is the most primitive type and find in plants like liverworts. It has a single layer of cells surrounding the ovum.
2. The Schizogenous ovule find in plants like angiosperms. It has a single layer of cells surrounding the ovum that split open to release the ovum.
3. The Gymnosperm ovule find in plants like conifers. It has two layers of cells surrounding the ovum. The outer layer is the integument and the inner layer is the nucellus.
Functions of ovule
- The ovule consists of three parts: the nucellus, the integuments, and the chalaza. The integuments are protective layers that surround the nucellus and chalaza. The chalaza is a thickened region of the ovule that helps to anchor it to the ovary wall.
- The nucellus is the central part of the ovule and contains the female gametophyte. The female gametophyte consists of two cells: the egg cell and the central cell. The egg cell is fertilize by a sperm cell to form a zygote, which develops into an embryo. The central cell is a nutritive cell that provides food for the developing embryo.
- After fertilization, the ovule develops into a seed. The seed consists of the embryo, the endosperm, and the seed coat. The embryo is the young plant that will develop from the seed. The endosperm is a nutritive tissue that provides food for the embryo. The seed coat protects the embryo and the endosperm.
FAQs
1. What is an ovule?
It is the female gametophyte, and contains the female gametes (egg cells). The ovules encloses in a protective structure called the ovary, which itself is surrounded by the perianth (the flower’s petals and sepals).
2. How does an ovule develop into a seed?
After pollination, the ovule fertilize by a pollen grain. The pollen grain germinates, and a pollen tube grows down the length of the ovule. The sperm cells travel down the pollen tube, and fertilize the egg cell. This process is called double fertilization. The ovule develops into the seed, and the ovary develops into the fruit.
3. What is the difference between an ovule and a seed?
It is the female gametophyte, and contains the female gametes (egg cells). The ovules are enclose in a protective structure called the ovary, which itself is surrounded by the perianth (the flower’s petals and sepals). After pollination, the ovule is fertilized by a pollen grain, and develops into a seed.
A seed is a fertilized ovule that has developed into a mature plant embryo, surrounded by a protective covering. The embryo is compose of the young sporophyte (the plant that will develop from the seed), and the endosperm (a tissue that provides nourishment to the embryo).
