Fertilisation and Germination in Plants

Question 1

Describe the fertilisation process:

Answer 1

1) A pollen grain lands on the stigma of a flower using usually wind or insects
2) A pollen tube grows out of the pollen grain and down through the style to the ovary and into the ovule
3) A nucleus from the male gamete moves down the tube to join with a female gamete in the ovule
4) Each fertilised female gamete forms a seed, the ovary develops into a fruit around the seed

Question 2

Define fertilisation:

Answer 2

When two nuclei fuse together to make a zygote. This divides by mitosis to form an embryo.

Question 3

What will a seed be like until the conditions around it are right for germination?

Answer 3

Dormant.

Question 4

What 3 things does germination require?

Answer 4

-Water
-Oxygen
-A suitable temperature

Question 5

Describe the process of germination:

Answer 5

1) The seed takes in water and starts to grow using the store of energy
2) The first root starts to grow down into the soil
3) The shoot grows up
4) Finally, extra roots grow and the first green leaves appear

Question 6

Where do germinating seeds get energy from?

Answer 6

Food stores.

Question 7

What 3 things does a developed seed contain?

Answer 7

An embryo, a store of food reserves, wrapped in a hard seed coat

Question 8

In the seed germination practical how many test tubes should there be and at what conditions?

Answer 8

1) Test tube 1: water, oxygen, room temperature (control)
2) Test tube 2: no water, oxygen, room temperature
3) Test tube 3: water, oxygen, low temperature
4: Test tube 4: water, no oxygen, room temperature

Question 9

In the seed germination practical what should be placed at the bottom of each test tube?

Answer 9

Cotton wool.

Question 10

In the seed germination practical how many seeds should be left in each test tube?

Answer 10

10, on top of the cotton wool.