Transcript The Problem of Fruit

The Problem
of Fruit
Plant Reproduction, Fruit
and Seed Dispersal
How do plants reproduce?

Some plants use flowers
or cones in their
reproductive processes.


Pollen (male
reproductive cell)
Eggs (female
reproductive cell)
How do plants reproduce
 Pollen
may be carried from
plant to plant by
Wind
 Water
 Animals/ insects
* If none of the above work,
some will self-pollinate

Wind Pollination

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Wind-pollinated plants rely on wind to scatter
their pollen. They do not need to attract
animals so their flowers are usually UNSCENTED
with small petals and sepals.
Plants that use the wind produce huge
amounts of pollen. Increasing the chances of
fertilization.
Pollen is usually smooth and light
Animal Pollination

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Flowers are used to attract animals to carry their
pollen. Most have brightly colored petals or sweet
scents to attract pollinators.
Some may produce a sweet liquid called nectar.
Some have patterns on their petals called nectar
guides to help an insect find it.
Pollen grains tend to be spiky so it sticks to the
animals body.
Water pollination
 Pollen
is dispersed into the water where it
flows or is carried to other plants.
Problem 1
 Flowers
are pretty and take a ton of
energy to create

Why would a plant invest so much energy
and time into a pretty flower, or into crazy
reproductive parts?
To attract an make fertilization
possible
Pollination
 Pollen
lands on the stigma,
moves through “style” and
fertilizes an egg in the ovary.
Ovary becomes fruit
Problem 2
 Why
would a plant spend so much energy
to create a fruit?
Seed Dispersal
Seed movement
 Animals

Squirrel burry acorn
 Animals

might poop seed
Apple, Berries, Vegetables
 Seed

might burry seed
might float away
Coconut
Seed Adaptations
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hooks called Burs are used to attach to
animal fur
Tasty seeds/fruits attract animals eat them
Spores burst open from pods to disperse
Float – coconuts float to another location
Wings/ fuzz – make them light to be carried by
the wind
And many more
 Why
is moving
seeds
important?
Other Seed Dispersal Methods
 Burrs,
Wind, Spores
Seed Dispersal Success
Depends Upon
 Type
of animals
 Environmental factors
 Number of seeds produced
 Seed landing in right spot
Review
 Why
do seeds spend so much energy
creating flowers and systems of
fertilization?
 Why do seeds invest so much energy in
fruit production?
Practice
 Why
would a plant be more successful as
a species if it is spread out over a wide
geographical area?
 What are some factors that affect the
successful germination of seeds?