Answer the following questions from your knowledge of reproduction in flowering plants - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 17 (c) - 2022

In a dicotyledonous seed, food is stored in the cotyledon (also referred to as seed leaf).

Seeds contribute to the formation of fruit by undergoing fertilization after pollination. Once fertilized, the ovule develops into a seed while the surrounding ovary matures into the fruit. This process ensures the protection and distribution of the seeds.

One part of a flower from which a fruit may develop is the ovary.

One role of genetics in fruit production is that it determines whether plants produce seedless fruits or fruits with advantageous traits, enhancing their marketability and agricultural yield.

1. Seed dispersal reduces competition for resources by allowing plants to colonize new areas.
2. It promotes genetic diversity by enabling seeds to germinate in different environments, increasing the chances of survival.

In germination, digestion involves breaking down stored food in the seed, providing essential nutrients that fuel the growth of the plant embryo.

During germination, respiration is crucial as it releases energy from the food stored in the seed, which is necessary for the growth and development of the seedling.

One example of asexual reproduction in flowering plants is vegetative propagation, where a new plant grows from a fragment of the parent plant, such as in the case of strawberries sending out runners.