Question

Brief description on how a plant is fertilized

Answers

GPT-4o mini
Fertilization in plants typically involves the following steps:

1. **Pollination**: This is the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of the same or another flower. Pollination can occur via wind, water, or pollinators like insects and birds.

2. **Pollen Germination**: Once on the stigma, the pollen grain germinates, forming a pollen tube that grows down the style toward the ovary.

3. **Sperm Cell Movement**: The pollen tube contains two sperm cells. As the tube reaches the ovule inside the ovary, it penetrates the ovule’s integuments.

4. **Double Fertilization**: One sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell, forming a diploid zygote, while the other sperm cell fuses with two polar nuclei to form triploid tissue called endosperm, which will nourish the developing embryo.

5. **Seed Development**: After fertilization, the zygote develops into an embryo, and the ovule matures into a seed. The ovary often develops into a fruit, which aids in seed dispersal.

This process allows for sexual reproduction in plants, leading to genetic variation in the next generation.