Page 2 - 2.Lesson Notes-Sexual mode of reproduction III

Fertilization

The process in which the male gamete present in pollen grain fuses with the female
gamete present in ovule to form a zygote is called fertilization.

Explanation:- The pollen tube after penetrating the stigma, travels through the style
and reaches the ovule in the ovary. The male gamete is released and fuses with the
female gamete to form the zygote.

Post fertilization

After zygote formation, the following changes occur:-

 The parts of the flower –Sepal petals, Carpel, and stamen – shed off after
drying.
 Ovary persists and ripens to form the fruit. The ovules, which store the food,
convert into seeds.
 The zygote within the ovule starts dividing and growing and form an embryo.
 Thus, the seed containing a young plant in the form of an embryo is formed. It
is protected by a tough covering called the seed coat. The seed also contains
cotyledons that store food.
 The fruit which is formed from the ovary may be as hard as almonds and
walnuts, or as juicy or fleshy as oranges and mangoes