What do you understand about sexual reproduction in plants? Explain. [5 MARKS]

Each point: 0.5 marks

1. Process of reproduction which involes two parents - a male and a female - is called sexual reproduction. Flower is the sexual reproductive part of a plant.
2. A flower has a male reproductive part called stamen and a female reproductive part called pistil.
3. Stamen has anther which produces male gametes called pollen grains. Pistil carries an ovary which produces female gametes called egg cells.
4. The pollen grains are transferred to the female part of a flower by the process of pollination.
5. Once the pollen lands on a suitable stigma, it forms the pollen tube which carries male gametes to the egg cell present inside the ovule.
6. The male gametes fuse with the egg to form the zygote and this process is called fertilization.
7. Later zygote transforms into an embryo (baby plant) while the ovule develops into the seed.
8. The seed is dispersed via different agents.
9. The seeds protect the plant embryo and on the onset of favourable conditions germinate.
10. Upon germination, the seed gives rise to a seedling.