Plant Reproduction

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Asexual Reproduction Noun

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[ay-sek-shoo-ul ree-pro-duk-shun]

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Asexual Reproduction

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Reproduction where a portion of a plant develops into a new, genetically identical individual without involving gametes.

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Example: A parent plant extends a runner (stolon) from which a new, identical plant (bud) grows, demonstrating one type of asexual reproduction.

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Sexual Reproduction Noun

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[sek-shoo-ul ree-pro-duk-shun]

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Sexual Reproduction

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A process involving male and female sex cells, resulting in offspring that are a genetic combination of the parents.

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Example: This diagram shows the key reproductive parts of a flower. Sexual reproduction in plants involves pollen from the male part (stamen) fertilizing the ovule in the female part (ovary).

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Alternation of Generations Noun

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[awl-ter-ney-shun uv jen-uh-rey-shuns]

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Alternation of Generations

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The life cycle of plants that switches between a multicellular haploid (gametophyte) and a multicellular diploid (sporophyte) stage.

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Example: This diagram shows a plant's life cycle alternating between two distinct generations: a haploid (n) gametophyte and a diploid (2n) sporophyte.

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Haploid Adjective

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[hap-loid]

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Haploid

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A cell or organism having a single set of unpaired chromosomes, represented by the symbol 'n'.

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Example: This diagram shows that a haploid cell (n) has only one copy of each chromosome, contrasting it with a diploid cell (2n) which has two.

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Diploid Adjective

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[dip-loid]

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Diploid

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A cell or organism containing two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, represented by '2n'.

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Example: This diagram shows two haploid cells (n), each with one set of chromosomes, combining to form one diploid cell (2n) with two sets.

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Gametophyte Noun

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[guh-mee-tuh-fahyt]

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Gametophyte

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The haploid, gamete-producing phase in the plant life cycle, which develops from a spore through mitosis.

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Example: This diagram shows the gametophyte is the leafy green part of a moss plant, which makes the reproductive cells called gametes.

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Sporophyte Noun

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[spohr-uh-fahyt]

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Sporophyte

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The diploid, spore-producing phase in the plant life cycle, which develops from a zygote after fertilization.

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Example: This diagram shows the sporophyte generation of a moss plant, which includes the stalk (seta) and capsule, growing on the leafy gametophyte generation.

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Meiosis Noun

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[mahy-oh-sis]

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Meiosis

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A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid cells from one diploid cell.

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Example: This diagram shows how one parent cell divides twice (Meiosis I and II) to produce four unique daughter cells, each with half the chromosomes.

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Gamete Noun

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[gam-eet]

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Gamete

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A mature haploid male or female germ cell that is able to unite with another in sexual reproduction.

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Example: This image shows two examples of gametes, the male sperm cell and the female ovum, which are specialized reproductive cells.

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Zygote Noun

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[zahy-goht]

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Zygote

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A diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum that develops into an embryo.

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Example: This diagram shows a sperm cell and an egg cell combining during fertilization to create a single cell called a zygote.