Reproduction in Plants
Pollination and Fertilisation
This science revision note aims to guide your child
– understand how flowers are pollinated and fertilised.
– proper scientific keywords to explain the concepts clearly.
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Must-know science knowledge on plant parts
In P5, you need to remember the different plant parts and their functions.
I’ve provided the must-know scientific knowledge for insect/animal-pollinated flowers.
How the scientific knowledge of plant parts is applied to the exam question?
The diagram below shows the cross-section of part of a female flower.
If the flower is cut at P, can the plant bear fruit? Explain your answer.
STEP 1
Identify the part(s) of the flower that was/were removed after cutting.
The stigma of the flower was removed.
STEP 2
What happens when the flower does not have the part(s) identified in Step 1?
Without the stigma, pollen grains cannot land on the stigma of the flower.
STEP 3
So how does your answer in Step 2 link to the plant-bearing fruit? First, you need to consider the chain of events that are supposed to take place after pollen grains land on the stigma:
- Pollen grains land on the stigma.
- Pollen grains grow pollen tubes containing male reproductive cell. It travels down the style to reach the ovary
- Male reproductive cell enters the ovule.
- Male reproductive cell fuses with female reproductive cell. Fertilisation has taken place.
- The ovary will then develop into a fruit
Since you have determined pollen grains cannot land on the stigma, these four events thus cannot take place:
- Pollen grains cannot land on the stigma.
- Pollen grains cannot grow pollen tubes containing male reproductive cell. It cannot travel down the style to reach the ovary
- Male reproductive cell cannot enter the ovule.
- Male reproductive cell cannot fuse with female reproductive cell. No fertilisation takes place.
- The ovary cannot develop into a fruit.
FINALLY, put your answer together
Question: If the flower is cut at P, can the plant bear fruit? Explain your answer.
Answer:
The plant cannot bear fruit.
Evidence: The stigma of the flower was removed.
Pollen grains cannot land on the stigma. Pollen grains cannot grow pollen tubes containing male reproductive cell. It cannot travel down the style to reach the ovary. Male reproductive cell cannot enter the ovule. The male reproductive cell cannot fuse with the female reproductive cell. The ovary cannot develop into a fruit.
Note: You should notice many plant parts are mentioned here.
Common mistakes
Wrong explanation: Pollen grains cannot fuse with ovules.
Pollen grains and ovules are not the reproductive cells of a plant. Pollen grains and ovules only contain the reproductive cells of a plant.
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This revision note explains the concept of seed dispersal.
Click here to read the revision note >>> https://scienceshifu.com/reproduction-in-plants-seed-dispersal-diagram/
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