Tracheophytes Tracheophyte Characteristics Tracheophytes: o have plants that can reproduce by spores or seeds.

o have specialized stems, leaves, roots, cuticles, stomata, and in many, seeds. o have specialized vascular tissue (xylem and phloem). o only require water for fertilization if they reproduce by spores. Tracheophytes that Reproduce by Spores

Tracheophytes that Reproduce by Seeds

Tracheophyta Fern Life Cycle (spore producing vascular plant) The fern sporophyte consists of true stems, roots, and leaves. Stems are usually rhizomes that grow horizontally underground. Roots grow downward from rhizomes into the soil. Fern leaves are called fronds and they grow upward from the rhizomes. Early in their development, fronds are tightly coiled into fiddleheads. Fiddleheads are a sure sign of spring. The sporophytes produce thousands of spores within each sporangium. They typically appear as brown spots called sori on the lower surfaces on fronds. In a shady, moist environment, the spore may germinate and form a heart shaped gametophyte. The gametophyte is called the prothallium. It is a flat green sheet of cells about 3mm wide. On the lower surface of the gametophyte, sex organs develop, gametes are produced and fertilization occurs. The fertilized egg divides, grows, and develops into a new sporophyte. (The sporophyte is much larger than the gametophyte as in all vascular plants.)

Sori

Fiddlehead

Archegonium Prothallium (Gametophyte) Antheridium

Life Cycle of a Fern

Questions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

In what structures does fertilization occur? By what division process in the gametophyte produced from a spore? The diploid (2n) structure that includes the stalk and capsule in the moss life cycle is most like which structure in the fern life cycle. Explain your answer. What are the stems of ferns called and how do they usually grow? a) b) In which structures of the fern life cycle does meiosis (2n to n) occur? What is produced as a result of meiosis?

Of the spores shown in the top of the diagram, why would some be green and others brown? What is the name of the structure in which fertilization of the egg and development of the embryo occur? How do the locations of the antheridia and archegonia in the moss life cycle compare with their locations in the fern life cycle?

Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (The Seed Plants)

Tracheophytes that reproduce by seeds are referred to as either gymnosperms or angiosperms. A gymnosperm has seeds but no flowers or fruits while an angiosperm has seeds, flowers and fruits. A seed is a multi-cellular structure containing a diploid embryonic plant and a food supply protected by a seed coat. A seed coat is a tough waterproof covering around a seed. A flower is the reproductive structure of some seed-bearing plants, characteristically having either specialized male or female organs or both male and female organs. A fruit is the ripened reproductive organ of a seed plant.

Gymnosperms

Examples of gymnosperms include: o o o o o pine trees, spruce trees, fir trees, cedar trees, and hemlock trees.

Members of this group do not develop flowers, thus they do not have seeds enclosed within a fruit. The name gymnosperm literally means naked seed. The most numerous and widespread of the gymnosperms are the conifers. They are the cone bearing woody trees and shrubs. The leaves are usually needle like. Their shape helps reduce their water loss during the dry season. Most conifers are evergreen meaning they do not drop their leaves in the autumn. However, conifers do shed their leaves, but not all at once. Most conifers replace their needles every two to four years.

Tracheophyta

Gymnosperm Life Cycle Conifer The Pine Tree (seed producing vascular plant) Pine trees produce two different kinds of cones. Male pollen cones and female seed cones are produced on the same tree, although on separate branches. Pine seeds develop on the scales of a female seed cone. Inside the cone are megasporangia. Cells in the megasporangia undergo meiosis to produce megaspores. The megaspores then develop into female gametophytes. The female gametophytes produce eggs that are ready for fertilization. On the scales of the male pollen cone are pollen sacs called microsporangia. Inside the sacs reproductive cells undergo meiosis to produce microspores. The microspores develop into pollen grains. Pollination occurs each spring as male cones release millions of pollen grains. Some grains land between the scales of the female cone or directly on the ovule. When this occurs, the pollen grain then produces a pollen tube. Each pollen tube grows toward a female gametophyte. Within the tube, sperm are produced. A year may pass before the sperm fertilize the egg. Inside the seed cone, a fertilized egg develops into a zygote. The zygote absorbs food from the female gametophyte, which develops as an initial food supply. The zygote develops into an embryo. A seed coat forms around the embryo and food supply. When the seeds are ripe, the woody cone opens. Each seed has papery wings, which help the wind to disperse it.

Female Cones

Male Cones

Pollen

Life Cycle of a Conifer Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. What is the first cell of the sporophyte generation? Which of the two cones shown on the left side of the diagram later becomes the seed cone shown on the right? How are the megasporangia and the microsporangia similar? a) b) Where are the female cones found on conifers? Where are the male cones found on conifers?

What is contained inside a pollen grain? The diagram shows both pollen grains and seeds being transported. What is the major means by which both are transported? a) b) Where are the female gametophytes produced? What do they later produce themselves?

According to the diagram, in what structures does meiosis (2n to n) occur in the life cycle of a conifer? What determines if a seed will produce a sporophyte plant?

Angiosperms Angiosperms all produce seeds in reproductive structures called flowers. Then, as seeds mature, the flower changes into a fruit. The name angiosperm means covered seed. Mature seeds are scattered or dispersed along with the fruit. Tracheophyta Angiosperm Life Cycle Step one - Pollination occurs. Pollination is the movement of pollen from anther to stigma. It can be self or cross pollination. Pollination can occur from the help of animals such as: bats, bees, birds, and butterflies. Wind also disperses pollen. Step two - A series of events is set into motion when the pollen grain lands on the stigma. A grain of pollen contains two cells: the tube cell and the generative cell. Chemicals in the stigmas cause an extension of the cytoplasm to grow out of the pollen grain. This becomes the pollen tube which grows towards the ovary. This is caused by the tube cell within the pollen grain. The tube cells nucleus is always located at the front end of the growing tube. As the pollen tube grows, changes occur in the generative cell. It undergoes mitosis forming two haploid sperm nuclei. Step three - Within the ovule there is a diploid cell which undergoes a series of meiotic and mitotic divisions to produce eight haploid nuclei - six of which migrate to opposite ends of the ovule, while two remain in the centre of the ovule. The middle of the three nuclei near the opening becomes the egg and the two nuclei in the middle of the ovule are referred to as polar nuclei. When the pollen tube reaches the opening of the ovule, the end of the tube pushes through the ovule wall and breaks open. The tube cell nuclei disintegrates and the two sperm nuclei fertilize the nuclei in the ovule. Step four - The first sperm nucleus fertilizes the egg cell forming a diploid zygote which develops into an embryo. The second sperm nucleus fertilizes the polar nuclei which in turn forms the endosperm or food for the growing embryo. (The endosperm is composed of a triploid nucleus.) This process is known as double fertilization and it only occurs in angiosperms. Step five - The ovule now thickens to form the seed coat while the ovary thickens to form fruit which when planted grows into a new seedling. Examples of endosperm tissue include: the white part of popcorn and coconut milk.

Formation of Pollen and Eggs in a Flowering Plant Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. What is the name of the structure shown in the diagram in which pollen grains are formed? Describe the nuclei contained in a pollen grain. How many eggs are produced in each ovule of a flower? By what division process is the diploid cell in the center of the ovule formed? What happens to the four haploid megaspores formed by meiosis (2n to n) in the flower ovule? Which of the nuclei shown in the diagram will combine to form a triploid (3n) nucleus that later becomes the seed endosperm? List the cells in the nuclei that are contained in the mature female gametophyte. When are pollen grains released as shown in the diagram? Name two methods by which pollen grains are transported to the female reproductive parts in plants that are not self-pollinating?

Anatomy of a Flower

Flowers are very effective reproductive structures. They produce gametes, and provide a place for them to unite and form a seed. Flowers vary in number, color, shape, and arrangement of their parts. Most flowers have both male and female parts. Such flowers are referred to a perfect. In contrast, some flowers have only male parts or female parts and are termed imperfect.

Monocots and Dicots Botanists are able to classify many species of angiosperms into two large groups based on the structure of their seed. Inside the seeds of angiosperms are tiny embryonic leaves called cotyledon. The seeds of one group angiosperms have one cotyledon. These angiosperms are called

monocotyledon, or monocots. Other angiosperms have two cotyledons. These plants are called dicotyledons, or dicots.

Monocots versus Dicots