Question

Describe the process of fertilisation in a flower.

Answer 1

Fertilization

1. It is the process of fusion of male and female gametes.
2. It occurs in organisms that reproduce sexually. For example, flowering plants, humans and birds.

Reproductive parts of a flower

1. Stamen: The male reproductive part that comprises anther and filament. Male gametes are present inside the pollen grains that develop on anther.
2. Carpel or pistil: The female reproductive part comprises stigma, style and ovary. The female gamete (egg cell) is present inside the ovule that developed in the ovary.

Process of fertilization in flowering plants

1. Pollination: Pollen grains from anther are transferred onto the stigma that has a sticky surface to capture pollen grains.
2. Pollen tube formation: In the presence of sugary fluid on stigma, the pollen starts to form a pollen tube.
3. Release of male gametes: Two male gametes from the pollen grain are released into the pollen tube that moves down to the ovule located inside the ovary.
4. Fertilization: The next step is the fusion of one male gamete with the egg cell nucleus
5. Fertilization results in the formation of a zygote.