Transcript The Problem of Fruit

The Problem
of Fruit
Plant Reproduction, Fruit
and Seed Dispersal
How do plants reproduce?
 Plants
use flowers or
cones to fertilize the
egg

Pollen and eggs
How do plants reproduce
 Plants
depend on animals
or force of nature to
pollinate them


Flowers: animals, insects
Cones and other: wind,
water
Problem 1
 Flowers
are pretty and take a ton of
energy to create

Why would a plant invest so much energy
and time into a pretty flower, or into crazy
reproductive parts?
To attract an make fertilization
possible
Pollination
 Pollen

moves through “style”
#swag
 And
fertilizes an egg in the
ovary
Ovary becomes fruit
Problem 2
 Why
would a plant spend so much energy
to create a fruit?
To transport seeds
Seed movement
 Animals

Squirrel burry acorn
 Animals

might poop seed
Apple, Berries, Vegetables
 Seed

might burry seed
might float away
Coconut
 Why
is moving
seeds
important?
Other Seed Dispersal Methods
 Burrs,
Wind, Spores
Seed Dispersal Success
Depends Upon
 Type
of animals
 Environmental factors
 Number of seeds produced
 Seed landing in right spot
Review
 Why
do seeds spend so much energy
creating flowers and systems of
fertilization?
 Why do seeds invest so much energy in
fruit production?
Practice
 Why
would a plant be more successful as
a species if it is spread out over a wide
geographical area?
 What are some factors that affect the
successful germination of seeds?