Which list gives the complete path for pollen as it fertilizes a plant?

Answer 1

The complete path for pollen as it fertilizes a plant typically involves several key steps. Here’s a general outline of the process:

1. Pollination: Pollen grains are transferred from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of the same or another flower. This can occur through various agents, including wind, water, insects, and animals.

2. Germination: Once pollen lands on a compatible stigma, it germinates. The pollen grain absorbs moisture and begins to grow a pollen tube.

3. Pollen Tube Growth: The pollen tube elongates and grows down through the style (the tube leading from the stigma to the ovary of the flower).

4. Ovule Entry: The pollen tube reaches the ovary and enters the ovule through an opening known as the micropyle.

5. Fertilization: Once inside the ovule, the sperm cells travel down the pollen tube. One sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell, forming a zygote, while another sperm cell may fuse with two polar nuclei to form endosperm (this process is called double fertilization).

6. Seed Development: The fertilized zygote develops into an embryo, and the ovule matures into a seed. The surrounding ovary tissue develops into a fruit.

7. Seed Dispersal: The mature seed can then be dispersed away from the parent plant, where it can germinate to give rise to a new plant.

In summary, the path is: Pollination → Germination → Pollen Tube Growth → Ovule Entry → Fertilization → Seed Development → Seed Dispersal.