Sexual reproduction in plants

• Features of Sexual Reproduction

• Two parents are involved (both male and a female).
• Gamete formation and fertilization take place.
• The whole process is slow and lengthy.
• Variation occurs; offspring are different from parents,
genetically and physically.
Sexual Reproduction in Plants
Reproduction in plants takes place sexually and asexually as well. But
the majority of the flowering plants ( Angiosperms) reproduce sexually.
The flower is the reproductive part of a plant i.e., both male and female
gametes are produced by flowers.
Sexual reproduction in plants takes place in flowers.
The complete flower typically consists of four parts:
• Petals ( corolla)
• Sepals ( Calyx)
• Stamen (male reproductive part) -Androecium
• Pistil/Carpel (female reproductive part) - Gynoecium
Stamen (male reproductive part) consists of anther
and filament.- Androecium
The anther is a sac-like structure that produces and
stores pollen.
The filament supports the anther.

The pistil (female reproductive part) comprises

three parts- stigma, style, and ovary.- Gynoecium
Stigma is the topmost part of a flower.
The style is the long tube which connects the stigma
to the ovary.
The ovary contains a lot of ovules. It is the part of
the plant where the seed formation takes place.
 Types of flower

Unisexual flowers have

either male (stamen) Bisexual flowers
or female (pistil) possess both male
reproductive organs, and female
but not both, within reproductive organs
the same flower. within the same
Ex: Papaya, water flower.
melon and coconut Ex: hibiscus,
sunflower, lily, Rose
Unisexual Flower
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Sexual reproduction in plants happens through flowers.
Essential whorls of the flowers such as
androecium(stamen) and gynoecium(pistil) help in the
sexual reproduction of plants.
Non-Essential Parts of Flowers
The typical structure of flowers contains essential whorls
and non-essential whorls.
Sepals and Petals are called non-essential whorls as they
do not directly take part in reproduction.
Sepals protect the inner delicate whorl during bud
condition and also perform photosynthesis if they are
green in colour.
Petals, when they are coloured, attract insects for
pollination.
Essential Whorls of Flowers
Androecium and gynoecium are called essential/reproductive
whorls of a flower.
Androecium produces pollen grains containing male gametes,
and gynoecium produces ovules which are female gametes.
Each individual member of androecium is called a stamen and
consists of an anther and filament.
Anther produces haploid pollen grains.
Each individual member of the gynoecium is called a pistil and
consists of a stigma, style and ovary.
Step of reproduction in plants

1. Pollination
2. Fertilization
3. Seed Formation
4. Seed germination
Pollination
The process of transfer of pollen grains from anthers to the stigma of a flower is
known as pollination.
It is required for fertilization.
Pollination has two types, self-pollination (autogamy) and cross-pollination
(allogamy).
In self-pollination, the transfer of pollen grains takes place from anthers to the
stigma of the same flower or another flower of the same plant.
In cross-pollination, pollens are transferred from anthers to the stigma of
another flower.
Many pollinating agents play their roles in cross-pollination. Examples: water,
wind, insects, birds, bats, etc.
Fertilization
• Fusion of male and female gametes is known as fertilization.
• In flowering plants, after pollination, the pollens germinate on
the stigma surface of the pistil and generate two male nuclei.
• Ovule has an egg cell and two polar nuclei.
• One male nucleus fuses with two polar nuclei and forms a
triploid endosperm.
• Another male nucleus fuses with the egg cell and forms the
zygote that gives rise to the embryo and future plant.
• After fertilization, the ovary becomes the fruit, and the ovules
turn into seeds. All other parts wither away.
 Double fertilization
-One male gamete fuses with the
female gamete to form the zygote –
syngamy
-The second male gamete fuses with
two polar nuclei and this fusion is
known as triple fusion
–Since two fertilizations occur inside
the ovule, fertilization in plants is
called as double fertilization

Double fertilization: Syngamy + Triple

fusion =Double fertilization
 Seed Germination
Seed contain the future plant or embryo which develop into a
seedling under appropriate condition . This process is known as
germination.
Plumule develops into shoot where as radical develop into root
 Sexual Reproduction In Human

( Fusion of sperm and ova)

Female
Foetus

Male
 Introduction

 Human beings are unisexual

 Sex are separate called dioecious
 There is a distinct sexual dimorphism
 Sexual dimorphism means male are visibly different
from female in physical build up, external genital organ
etc
 Structure associate with reproduction are different in
males and females
Puberty: *
• The age at which the Sex hormone and gametes begin to be
produces and the Boy and Girl become sexually mature is
called Puberty.
• In males, after Puberty, testes starts producing sperms and
the Male sex hormone called Testosterone.
• In females, after puberty, ovaries starts producing Ova (or
eggs) and Female sex hormone, Estrogen.
• Male and female also starts developing secondary sexual
characters.
Changes only in Male at puberty:
a. Hair grow in Armpits, Pubic regions, Chest and
Face
b. b. Body becomes muscular.
c. c. The voice deepens.
d. d. Chest and Shoulders broaden.

Changes in Female at puberty:

 a. Hair grow in Armpits and Pubic regions.
 b. Mammary glands develop and enlarge.
 c. Hips broaden.
 d. Fallopian tube, uterus and Vagina enlarge.
 Human Male Reproductive system

Testes Accessory ducts Accessory glands External Genetalia

(1 pair)

Vasa efferentia
Seminal Vesicles (2) Penis
Epididymis
Prostate gland (1)
Vasa deferentia
Cowper’s gland Scrotum
Urethra

Primary sex
organ
Secondary sex organ
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 Accessory ducts
1. Testis
 Two testis present in scrotum
 Testis produces sperm (gamete).
 Testes are primary male sex organ or gonads.+
 Testis produces hormones called testosteron.
 Testosterone helps in developing male sex characters.
Note: Testis is present in scrotum because sperm produces at
lesser temperature (2 - 3⁰ less) than body temperature.
This temperature is necessary for spermatogenesis ( formation
of sperm)
Male gamete- Sperm
 The Sperm
 Sperms are microscopic and unicellular cells contain genetic
materials.
 Each sperm has three parts – Head, Middle piece and tail.
 Head covered by a cap called acrosome ( Contain enzymes) and
contain genetic material, helps in penetration into ovum.
 Middle piece contain mitochondria, which supply energy for
sperm activity.
 Men starts producing sperms from the age of 13 to 14 years. It
continues through out the life.
 Tail is useful in sperm motality.
 Path way of the sperm/ journey of sperm

Seminiferous tubules

Vasa efferentia

Epididymis

Vasa diferentia Ejaculatory duct Urethra

 Accessory ducts
1. Vas efferentia
Transport spermatozoa (sperm) from the seminiferous
tubules to epididymis

[Link]
It collect sperm from the testis and provides the
environment for maturation and storage of sperm.

[Link] Differentia/ sperm duct

A pair of thick walled, muscular ducts arising from

epididymis .
 4. Urethra

It is a tubular structure that arises from the neck

of urinary bladder and opens of the tip of penis
through an external urino genital duct.
 Common Passage for both urine and sperm.

Skin covering around urethra called penis

 5. Associate Glands
Seminal Vesicle-2 Prostrate gland-1 Cowper’s gland-2

 Secretion is watery  Secretion with  It secretes mucus

 Alkaline fluid contain Calcium ions and Helps in lubrication
fructose- nourishes potassium ions
sperm  Milky white
secretion
 Provide semen
colour and odour

Note: Semen= Sperm + secretion of 3 glands

Secretion of all the three glands is alkaline
 Human Female Reproductive system

Ovaries Accessory ducts Accessory glands External Genetalia

(1 pair)

Oviduct Present in vaginal

Uterus Vulva
vestibules-
Vagina secretes mucus

Primary sex
organ
Secondary sex organ
 Female Reproductive system

Parts of female reproductive system:

Ovary
Fallopian Tube/ Oviduct
Uterus
Vagina ( Birth canal)
Cervix
Female Reproductive system
1. Ovary:
* Two ovaries are present in the abdominal cavity.
* Ovaries contain many immature eggs.
* These eggs become mature at puberty age.
* Each egg is released every month from ovary to oviduct.
* Ovary secretes hormones called estrogen and progesterone.

2. Fallopian tube/ Oviduct:

* Tube that connects ovaries to uterus.
* It accept mature egg from ovary.
* Fertilization occur in fallopian tube.
* Zygote / embryo travels to uterus.
3. Uterus:
* The two oviducts from two ovaries which unites
into a bag like structure called uterus.
* Development of foetus ( baby) takes place.
* Uterus open into vagina through cervix.
 Females have basically two important hormones, i.e.
estrogen and progesterone.

 The production of these hormones mainly takes place in

the ovaries, adrenal glands. which influence body
weight, hair growth, and bone and muscle growth.

 It plays a vital role in sexual development, reproduction,

and general health.

 Both estrogen and progesterone have direct effects on

the development of mammary glands.
 Process Of Fertilization

What happened when egg is fertilized?

Fertilized egg
 Process Of Fertilization

I. Fertilization
 During sexual intercourse many sperms enter the female body
through the vaginal passage and travel upwards to reach the
oviduct where they may encounter the matured egg / ovum.
 If the sperm meets the ovum then fertilization takes place and
a zygote is formed.

II. Implantation
 The zygote moves down to uterus where it gets attached to the
lining of uterus and this is called as implantation.
 Now the zygote starts dividing to form a multicellular organism.
 The developing embryo receives nutrition from mother’s body
with the help of a special tissue called placenta.
 III. Placenta
 Placenta is a disc like structure which is embedded in the
uterine walls.
 On the embryo’s side it contains villi.

 On mother’s side there are blood spaces which surround

these villi.

 This increases the surface area so that more amount of

oxygen and glucose can pass through mother to embryo.

 The waste generated by embryo is also transferred into

mother’s body through placenta.

 The development of the child inside the mother’s body

takes. approximately 9 months in human being and this
period is called as gestation period (pregnancy period).
 IV. Parturition

 Once the embryo has developed inside

mother’s body, the young one is given
birth through vagina due to rhythmic
contraction of the uterine muscles and this
process is called as parturition.
What happens when egg is not fertilized?

Menstruation
 Menstruation
1. Every time an egg is released from the ovaries, simultaneously the uterus
starts preparing it self to receive the zygote incase fertilization takes place.
2. As one egg is released every month , hence uterus also prepares itself
every month to receive the zygote. *The lining of the uterine wall gets
thickened. *They get richly supplied with blood.
3. If fertilization does not take place, then egg lives for one day.
4. The lining of the uterus which has prepared itself to receive the developing
embryo is no longer required.
5. So the lining slowly breaks down and comes out of vagina as blood and
mucus.
6. This cycle takes place every month and called as menstrual cycle/
menstruation and it lasts for 3- 8 days.
Diseases which are spread by sexual contact with an infected
person are called Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD).
Common STD are: Bacterial diseases
Ex: Gonorrhoea, (Neisseria gonorrhoea)

Ex: Syphilis ( Treponema pallidum)

Viral diseases
Eg. AIDS, warts
AIDS- Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
Cause – HIV- Human Immuno Deficiency
Virus.
 Contraceptive methods

1. Barrier methods/ Mechanical method:

Prevent entry of sperm in vagina.

1. by IUCD ( Intra uterine contraceptive device)
Ex: Copper –T (Disadvantage : Can cause irritation of uterus.)

2. Condoms
Advantage : It helps in the prevention of STD
3. Cervicle caps
3. Chemical Method:

By taking oral pills to prevent ovulation

Disadvantage : It changes hormonal balance which can cause

side effects
 2. Surgical method:

1. Tubectomy ( females): Fallopian tubes are cut and tied.

2. Vasectomy (males): Vas deferens is cut and tied.

- Surgical methods are safe in the long run but surgery itself
can cause infections if not performed properly.
Importance of Studying Reproductive Health:

Study of reproductive health is a very important aspect of

life as it helps an individual to know about:
-Awareness about STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
-Helps a couple to plan family after marriage.
-To take care of mother’s and child’s health eg. If mother
is not prepared for bearing a child, then unwanted
pregnancies can have negative effects on body as well on
mind.