Biology, Eighth Edition (Raven)

Chapter 42: Plant Reproduction

Learning Outcomes

• Describe how plants produce flowers in response to environmental cues.
• Explain meristems, competence, phase change, photoperiodism, the roles of different hormones, and how these different factors interact in the flowering process.
• Describe how flowers evolved. What are the parts of a complete flower?
• Discuss the three known genetically regulated pathways for flowering. What is the role of phytochrome in these pathways? List the evolutionary advantages provided by angiosperm flowers.
• Describe the two major evolutionary changes that led to the diversity of flower phenotypes.
• Differentiate between pollination and fertilization.
• Describe the processes of pollen formation and embryo sac formation.
• Explain fertilization in angiosperms.
• Understand the advantages of asexual reproduction in plants. What is apomixis?
• Name and describe the parts of a flower. Which part becomes the seed?
• Explain the life span of annual, biennial, and perennial plants.
• Differentiate between complete and incomplete flowers, and between monoecious and dioecious plants. Which arrangement promotes outcrossing?
• Understand the advantages of asexual reproduction in plants.
• Differentiate among annual, biennial, and perennial plants.
• Understand the process of abscission.