INFLORESCENCE, POLLINATION AND FERTILIZATION Prepared to meet the task Structur and Development of Plants 1

ARTICLE

By Niswati Zahro NIM 100210103068

PROGRAM STUDY EDUCATION SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY FACULTY OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION UNIVERSITAS JEMBER 2011

INFLORESCENCE, POLLINATION AND FERTILIZATION Niswati Zahro (100210103068)

ABSTRACT Before plants was die, usually it will produce a component that will become new plant called flower. Inflorescence is the arrangement of a group of flowers borne on the same main stalk. In a racemose (or indefinite) inflorescence the tip of the main stem continues to grow and flowers arise below it. Flower have many part to support fertilization and pollination even to form fruit that have seeds. Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilization and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains, which contain the male gametes (sperm) to where the female gamete(s) are contained within the carpel. Fertilization is fused even of ovum and sperm after pollination. Key word: inflorescence, pollination, fertilization, fused

1. Introduction

Plant reproductive organs differentiated into 2 groups, namely generative reproduction and vegetative reproduction. Generative organs has a shape and arrangement of which varies according to species of plants, but spermatophyta, commonly referred to as a flowers. Therefore, a plant seed, if it is time to reproduce flowers. There are two types of flowering is a single flowering (planta uniflora) and compound flowering (inflorescentia). In a planta uniflora, only supports a single flower stalk, while the inflorescentia, a flower stalk to support many flowers. Inflorescence should be distinguished from the branch that supports some of flowers in axillary, but not easy to distinguish a compound interest from the branch that has the flowers in axillary leaves (Tjitrosoepomo, 2009).

Flowers is the plants organ which will become fruit and in fruit, seed will be happening in there potential make a new plant that is cotyledons. Fruits, seeds and cotyledons will occur after the first event pollination and fertilization (Tjitrosoepomo, 2009). Reproductive parts are located within the flowers. Plants may be unisexual or bisexual, i.e the male and female reproductive parts located within the same flower or on separate flowers. The male reproductive organ is known as Androecium while the female is known as Gynoecium. The Androecium is composed of stamens that is made of up a filament and anther. The anther contains pollen sac that produces pollens. Male gametes are contained within the pollens. Both gymnsosperms and angiosperms belong to the spermatophyta or flowering plants family, the difference being mainly how the seed are borne. However, the pollination and fertilization mechanisms, though similar in actual context also have differences (Sengupta, 2010). Based on the above background, it is necessary to do a study to add insight the students to better understand inflorescence, pollination and fertilization events.

2. Inflorescence

Flowers may be born singly on plants, when they are said to be solitary, or they may from clusters. Such clusters of flowers, together with the stems and bracts associated with them, are called inflorescences. Some flowers heads are extremely complex, expecially in the grasses and in the family to which the dandelion and daisy belong, each head consisting of many dozen or even hundreds of individual flowers (Sengupta, 2010)..Compound.flower has the parts.that are like the

stem, like.a.leaf, as.well.as parts.if atypical flower, like.a crown of.flowers, pistil, and benangsari.The parts that are like stem, for example: a) Main flower stalk (peduncle, pedunculus), which is the main which supports. whole compound flowers. b) Section mother flower stalk inthe middle.of the.inflorescence,in which.the indi vidual flower stems attac.ed, called.the rachis (rachis)..Flower stalk (pedicel, p edicellus), the stalk of.each individual flower

c) Basic flower (receptacle, receptaculum), base of flowers stalks that support other parts of flower. (Sengupta, 2010). The parts are like a leaf, for example (Dillon, 1964): a) Protective leaf (bractea), leaf likes the main axillary leaf b) Leaf stalks (bracteole), that is leaves (1-2 leaves) that appear on base flower stalks. c) Flower sheath (spatha), leaves are larges shield that surrounds the whole compound flowers prior to bloom, for example on flower Palm palmae. d) Leaf pads (involucrum), an amount of protective leaves arranged in a circle around the compound flowers basis, for example in the Hellianthus annus L. e) Leaf additional (epicalyx), an around of protecetive leaves arranged the petals for example in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. f) Sepal g) Petal h) Tepal i) Stamen j) Pistil

Generalized parts of flower

3. Type of Inflorescences Based on bud growth, the introduction of monopodial growth and simpodial. Two kinds of growth were also reflected in the growth of flower: 1. Compound flower is limited growth (inflorescentia cymosa) that is compound flower who stalks is always covered by a flower, so the main stalks has limited growth. Flowers that bloom first is contained in the main flower stalks, so from the middle to the edge. Base of branches in the main stalk, compound flower bounded distinguished into three kinds ( Tjitrosoepomo, 2009): a) Monochasial, if the main stalks has only one branch stems, there are two branches but never confronted and which one is larger than the other branches b) Dichasial, if at the main stalk rise out of two branches dealing c) Pleiochasial, if the main stalk rise out more than two branches at the same height somewhere on the main stalk.

Pleiochasial cyme 2. Compound flower is unlimited growth (inflorescentia racemosa), compound flower that main stalks can continue grow branched which can be branched again and have acropetal arrangement (the younger flower closer premises main stalk and flower bloom from bottom to top.

Kinds compound.interest limitless with nobranching on main stalk (Sengupta, 2010) : Spike A Spike is a group of flowers arising from the main stem, without individual flower stalks (sessile).

The example foeniculum. Raceme

is

Agastache

A Raceme is a flower spike where the flowers have stalks of equal length, and the tip of the stem continues to grow and produce more flowers. Flowers open from the bottom up.

The example is Linaria vulgaris. Panicle A Panicle is a branched raceme, each branch having a smaller raceme of flowers. The terminal bud of each branch continues to grow, producing more side shoots and more flowers.

The example is Lagerstroemia indica.

Cyme A Cyme is a group of flowers in which the end of each growing point produces a flower, so new growth comes from side shoots and the oldest flowers are at the top.

The example is Geranium pratense. Verticillaster A Verticillaster is a whorled

inflorescence, where the flowers are borne in rings at intervals up the stem. The tip continues to grow, producing more whorls. This type of

inflorescence is common in members of the Deadnettle/Mint Family

(Lamiaceae). The example is Phlomis russelliana. Corymb A Corymb is a flower cluster where all the flowers are at the same level, with flower stalks of different lengths, forming a flat-topped flower cluster.

The example is Achillea millefolium.

Umbel An Umbel is a flower head in which all the flower stalks are of the same length, so that the flower head is rounded like an umbrella. Many bulbs have this type of flower head.

The example is Nerine bowdenii. Compound Umbel A Compound Umbel is an umbel where each stalk of the umbel produces a smaller umbel of flowers. This type of inflorescence is typical of members of the Celery Family (Apiaceae). The example is Crithmum maritimum. Capitulum A Capitulum is a flower head

composed of many separate unstalked flowers close together. This type of inflorescence is typical of the Daisy Family (Asteraceae), where the outer flowers have one conspicuous large petal and the central disk is formed of flowers with smaller petals. The example is a Senecio species.

Like everything else in nature, these descriptions can only be a general guide to how your flowers might look. There are many variables, even on one plant, and flower clusters are often described as raceme-like cymes, or cymose panicles, or other words that indicate that the flowers do not conform exactly to any one type of inflorescence. The habit of growth may also be affected by growing conditions, so something that produces clear whorls in moist conditions might produce flowers closer together to form a denser spike in drier conditions. I generally refer to anything in long, thin inflorescences as a spike, and anything more rounded as a cluster (Curtis, 1968). 3. Mixture of compound flower (inflorescentia mixta), that is compound flower who shows good properties as well as the nature of compound flower limited and compound flower limitless (Marsland, 1964).

4. Reproduction in the flower

Pollination and fertilization are the two processes that aid in plant reproduction. These two processes are indeed different from each other, but are interconnected with each other. Pollination is the first step preceded by fertilization that finally leads to formation of plant zygote. A successful pollination leads to fertilization. Significant differences are observed on comparing pollination vs fertilization. But before doing the in depth analysis of the difference between pollination and fertilization in plants, we must know the basic structure of plant reproductive system (Marsland, 1964). 4.1 Gynoecium The gynoecium consists of the stigma, style, and ovary containing one or more ovules. Stigma- the stigma is female part of the flower. This is where the seeds are made. The stigma is sticky to catch the grains of pollen. The style is the neck that the pollen travels down to get to the Ovary. I n the ovary, the pollen joins the ovule and the ovules become seeds. The Receptacle is the top of the

flower. These three structures are often termed a pistil or carpel. In many plants, the pistils will fuse for all or part of their length (Marsland, 1964).

The female reproductive part or Gynoecium is composed of one or more pistils. Pistil contains carpels and carpels house ovary and ovules. Female gametes are located inside ovules. Pistil has three parts namely stigma, style and filament. The stigma forms the receptor of pollen grains that is supported by stalk. The pollen grains pass through the style, filament and finally reaches the ovule. The ovary contains one or more ovules, which in turn contain one female gametophyte, also referred to in angiosperms as the embryo sac. Some plants, such as cherry, have only a single ovary which produces two ovules. Only one ovule will develop into a seed (Marsland, 1964). . 4.2 Stamen

Stamen are the male parts of the flower. They make the pollen. Pollen is the fine yellow powder needed to make a new plant. Each stamen has two parts, the anther and the filament. The anther contains the pollen and the filament holds up the anther (Stein, 2010).

a. Filament b. Anther, discharging pollen

5. Pollination

When the pollen is fully developed, the pollen sac breaks in manner already for transfer to the stigma. Whether the transfer (called pollination) is accomplished by wind or water or by activities of insect or birds, the important feature here is that it reaches a ripened stigma, i.e., one that the fully matured and ready for pollination (Dillon, 1964). Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred in plants, thereby enabling fertilization and sexual reproduction. Pollen grains, which contain the male gametes (sperm) to where the female gamete(s) are contained within the carpel; in gymnosperms the pollen is directly applied to the ovule itself. The receptive part of the carpel is called a stigma in the flowers of angiosperms. The receptive part of the gymnosperm ovule is called themicropyle. Pollination is a necessary step in the reproduction of flowering plants, resulting in the production of offspring that are genetically diverse (Marsland, 1964). Based on the origin of pollen which on the stigma, pollination divided into several types, that is: 1. Self-pollination . Self-pollination occurs when pollen from one flower pollinates the same flower or other flowers of the same individual. [9] It is thought to have evolved under conditions when pollinators were not reliable vectors for pollen transport, and is most often seen in short-lived annual species and plants that colonize new locations. Self pollination may include autogamy, where pollen moves to the female part of the same flower (Marsland, 1964). a. Geitonogamy, when pollen is transferred to another flower on the same plant. Plants adapted to self-fertilize often have similar stamen and carpel lengths. Plants that can pollinate themselves and produce viable offspring are called self-fertile. Plants that cannot fertilize themselves are called self-sterile, a condition which mandates cross pollination for the production of off spring (Marsland, 1964).

b. Cleistogamy: is self-pollination that occurs before the flower opens. The pollen is released from the anther within the flower or the pollen on the anther grows a tube down the style to the ovules. It is a type of sexual breeding, in contrast to asexual systems such as 12pomixes. Some cleistogamousflowers to chasmogamous flowers that never open, in contrast

open and

are then pollinated.

Cleistogamous flowers by necessity are self-compatible or self-fertile plants. Many plants are self-incompatible, and these two conditions are end points on a continuum (Marsland, 1964).

2. Cross-pollination, also called allogamy occurs when pollen is delivered to a flower from a different plant. Plants adapted to outcross or crosspollinate often have taller stamens than carpels or use other mechanisms to better ensure the spread of pollen to other plants' flowers (Marsland, 1964). 3. Hybridization is pollination between flowers of different species, or between different breeding lines or populations. (Marsland, 1964) Pollination syndromes are suites of flower traits that have evolved in response to natural selection imposed by different pollen vectors, which can be abiotic (wind and water) or biotic, such as birds, bees, flies, and so forth. These traits include flower shape, size, colour, odour, reward type and amount, nectar composition, timing of flowering, etc. For example, tubular red flowers with copious nectar often attract birds; foul smelling flowers attract carrion flies or beetles, etc.(Curtiz, 1968) 1. Wind pollination (anemophily)
Flowers may be small and inconspicuous, green and not showy. They produce enormous numbers of relatively small pollen grains (hence wind-pollinated plants may beallergens, but seldom are animal-pollinated plants allergenic). Their stigmas may be large and feathery to catch the pollen grains. Insects may visit them to collect pollen; in some cases these are ineffective pollinators and exert little natural selection on the flowers,

but there are also examples of ambophilous flowers which are both wind and insect pollinated .(Curtiz, 1968)

2. Water pollination (hydrophily)

Water-pollinated plants are aquatic and pollen is released into the water. Water currents therefore act as a pollen vector in a similar way to wind currents. Their flowers tend to be small and inconspicuous with lots of pollen grains and large, feathery stigmas to catch the pollen. However, this is relatively uncommon (only 2% of pollination is Hydrophily) and most aquatic plants are insect-pollinated, with flowers that emerge into the air .(Curtiz, 1968)

3. Animal mediated pollination (zoidiophyly, zoidiogamy). Pollination is taking

place because there is the influence of animals as intermediaries. Pollination usually occurs in plants that have characters as follows (Curtiz, 1968).

a. Having attractive colors b. Produce something interesting or food animal c. Pollen is often lumpy and sticky, so sticky to the bodies of animals that visit flowers d. Sometimes having a special shape, so the flowers can be visited by certain animal species Based on any class of animals that play a role in pollination, zoidiogamy can be distinguished in (Dillon, 1964): 1. Insect-mediated pollination (entomophyly, entomogamy), for example butterfly, bees, flies, etc. 2. Birds-mediated pollination (ornithophyly, ornitogamy) 3. Bats-mediated pollination (chiropterophyly, chiropterogamy) 4. Slugs-mediated pollination (malacophyly, malacogamy)

6. Fertilization

The pollen grains (microspores) are haploids cells, which are formed in the anthers as a result of meiosis, from diploids microsphore mother cells (microsporocytes). Each pollen grains is destined to grow into a gametophytein this case, a male gametophyte. Such a development normally occurs only when the mocrospore falls into the sugary secretion of a stigma of the same species, although pollen grains can often be induced to germinate in artificial solution. The male gametophyte, which is commonly called the pollen tube, now grows downward through the tissue of the stigma and the style, deriving nourishment and protection from these tissue. At maturity, when it penetrates an ovule and approaches the egg cell, the male gametophyte consist of only three cellsor rather consist of trinucleate syncytium. One of three nuclei is the tube nucleus, which regulates the growth of the pollen tube; and the other two are sperm niclei. One of these sperm nuclei unites with egg, forming the zygote, while the other unites with both endosperm nuclei, forming a triploid endosperm cell. The process called fertilization (Marsland,1964).

Fertilization occurs when a sperm nucleus leaves a pollen tube and fuses with an egg nucleus. After fertilization, the zygotes multiplies by mitosis, and growing at the expense of the surrounding endosperm tissue, it produces mass of diploid cells that represents the embryo sporophyte (Marsland, 1964).
While the embrio is growing, many changes also occur in the several tissue, which lies in direct contact with the embryo and provides it with organic food. The ovule taken as a whole, become the seed and the ovule chamber also taken as a whole , enlarges and becomes a fruit (Curtiz, 1968)

Conclution Inflorescence should be distinguished from the branch that supports some of flowers in axillary, but not easy to distinguish a compound interest from the branch that has the flowers in axillary leaves. Inflorescence is one of two types flowering in plants. Flower used to support produce fruits and seeds, trough the pollination even and then fertilization.

REFERENCES
Curtis, Helena.1968. Biology. New York: Worth Publishers.

Dillon, Lawrence S.. 1964. The Science Of Life. New York: The Macmillan Company.

Marsland, Douglas. 1964. Principles Of Modern Biology. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Sengupta,

Saptacee.

Pollination

vs

Fertilization.

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http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pollination-vs-fertilization.html. diakses 01 juni 2010.

Stein, Sammy. Pollination and fertilization in the gymnosperm. Http://www.helium.com/items/1923324-pollination-and-fertilization-in-thegymnosperm. 01 Juni 2010

Tjitrosoepomo, Gembong. Morfologi Tumbuhan. Yogyakarta: Gadjah mada university press. 2009.