Fertilization in Plants

Today's topic is Fertilization in Plants for ICSC biology class 6.Plants produce fruits and new plants with the help of this process like animals and human beings produce offsprings similar to them. Flowers play a major role in this process. So you must read the topic The Flower to understand the structure of the flower and the process of pollination which is the first part of this chapter.

Fertilization in Plants

What is fertilization?

Fertilization definition or Fertilization meaning - The process of fusion of male and female gametes is known as fertilization.

Fertilization process - Male gamete is present in the pollen tube while the female gamete is found in the ovule. The cell that is produced by the fusion of male and female gamete is known as zygote.

After the process of fertilization, the ovary gets developed into a fruit and the ovule gets developed into a seed.All the fruits consist of two parts i.e pericarp (the edible part of the fruit)and seed. Pericarp in fleshy fruits such as mango,plum etc further consists of three layers - exocarp (outer layer), mesocarp (middle layer), endocarp (inner layer) while in dry fruits pericarp doesn't have these three layers. For example - beans, gram etc.

Functions of fruits

1.Seed is protected from extreme conditions by the fruit.

2.Fruits attract animals that help to disperse the seeds.

3 Fruits consist of food materials.

Germination of seeds

What is germination?

The process of development of a plant from a seed after the period of dormancy is known as germination.

Hypocotyl - It is that part of the seedling or plant embryo which is found between the cotyledons and the radicle.

The stem of a germinating seedling that is found above the radicle and below the cotyledon is known as hypocotyl.

Epicotyl - It is that part of the stem which is present above the cotyledon.

It is of the following two types -

1.Epigeal Germination

2. Hypogeal Germination

What is epigeal germination?

The germination in which the cotyledons are pushed above the ground is known as epigeal germination. For example - beans, sunflower, cotton etc.

(a) After absorbing water, the seed coat starts rupturing. The radical starts growing downward forming the root.

(b) Hypocotyl is elongated and cotyledons are pushed above the ground.

(c) The colour of cotyledons become green and they start functioning as first leaves and epicotyl emerges out from the cotyledons.

(d) Photosynthesis is performed by the young leaves that are unfolded at the top of epicotyl.

(e) Cotyledons fall down after withering.

What is hypogeal germination?

The germination in which cotyledons are found below the soil is known as hypogeal germination. For example - mango, pea, maize, wheat, rice, gram etc.

(a) After absorbing water, the seed is swelled up and ruptured. The radicle starts growing downwards and the root is formed.

(b) Epicotyl is elongated and the first leaves are formed from the plumule that emerges out from the soil.

(d) New leaves start appearing and prepare food for the plant.

Hope you liked the topic Fertilization in Plants for ICSC biology class 6.Please share it and comment if you want articles on any topic. You can also practice this topic using Worksheets for Science.

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