What are the two main groups of seed plants?
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms
Gymnosperms are referred to as ‘naked seeds’, while Angiosperms are known as ‘vessel seeds’.
What are the defining features of seed plants?
Seeds, secondary growth, heterospory
Heterospory refers to the production of two types of spores.
What is the dominant generation in seed plants?
Sporophyte generation
The sporophyte is the diploid phase that produces spores.
What are the two types of spores produced in heterospory?
Megaspores and microspores
Megaspores develop into female gametophytes, while microspores develop into male gametophytes.
What is the role of the integument in seed plants?
It surrounds the megasporangium
The integument contributes to the formation of the seed coat.
True or False: Water is required for fertilization in seed plants.
False
Seed plants do not require water for fertilization.
What is produced by the microgametophyte in gymnosperms?
Pollen grain
The pollen grain contains sperm cells.
What is the female structure that contains the egg cell in gymnosperms?
Archegonia
The megagametophyte contains archegonia, each with an egg cell.
What is the lifespan characteristic of gymnosperms?
Very long life cycle
Fertilization occurs approximately 1.5 years after pollination.
What are the key stages of the gymnosperm life cycle?
- Sporophyte Generation 2. Cone Production 3. Spore Formation 4. Gametophyte Generation 5. Pollination 6. Fertilization 7. Seed Development 8. Germination 9. Maturity
This cycle illustrates the alternation of generations.
What type of cones produce microspores in gymnosperms?
Microsporangiate cone
This cone is responsible for producing male gametophytes.
Fill in the blank: The zygote develops into an _______ within a seed.
Embryo
The embryo is a new sporophyte that will grow into a mature tree.
What happens during pollination in gymnosperms?
Pollen is carried by wind to the female cone
The pollen lands near the ovule and forms a pollen tube.
What is the primary method of dispersal for gymnosperm seeds?
Seed dispersal
Seeds are diploid (2n) and can disperse under favorable conditions.
What unique feature do Ginkgo trees have?
Deciduous nature and bad-smelling ovules
The smell is due to butyric acid released when the ovules are crushed.
What is a characteristic of the microgametophyte in gymnosperms?
Contains four cells: 2 prothallial, 1 generative, and 1 tube cell
The tube cell forms the pollen tube.
True or False: All gymnosperms have woody cones.
False
Some gymnosperms have structures called ‘arils’ instead of woody cones.
