Past Questions on Plant Reproduction

Name the parts labelled A, B, C, D in figure 1

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State one function for each A and B.

Figure 1

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Name the parts labelled A, B, C, D,E and F in figure 2

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What is the function of A? __________________________________

Figure 2
Give two ways in which A may be adapted for this function.

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What forms in F after pollination and fertilization? _________________________________________________________

In which labelled part is pollen produced? ______________________________________________________________

What is pollination? _________________________________________________________________________________

Some flowers have nectaries. How are these flowers pollinated? Explain your answer. ___________________________

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Give two ways in which pollen may be transported to another flower. _________________________________________

Name a plant pollinated by each method.________________________________________________________________

Name A and B in figure 3_______________________________________________

Where is pollen produced, in A or in B?___________________________________

To which part of a flower is pollen carried?________________________________

What is the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination? Figure 3

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Suggest why cross-pollination is preferable to self-pollination.

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Figure 4 shows a vertical section through a carpel. Name A, B, C, D, E.

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What happens to the two nuclei labelled D?

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In the case of B and E state what may happen to each of them after fertilisation.

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Figure 4

Complete the diagram by drawing a pollen tube that has completed its growth. Label
the nuclei in the pollen tube.

Name the nuclei labelled B and D in figure 5

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Which of the nuclei A, B, C, D is/are not involved in the process of fertilisation?

Figure 5
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Which of the nuclei A, B, C, D will, as a result of fertilisation, become the zygote nucleus of the new plant?

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Name the structure labelled X. ________________Following fertilisation what does an ovule become? ______________

What will form from the structures labelled Y _____________________________________________________________

State a role for each of the following: petal, sepal, anther, stigma, ovary. ______________________________________

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Explain fertilisation. _________________________________________________________________________________

The two male gametes in the pollen tube are derived from the generative nucleus. Do these gametes form as a result of
mitosis or meiosis? Explain your answer.

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Describe the fate of each of the male gametes.

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State one method that is used to produce seedless fruits.

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Give three characteristics in each case of;

1. an insect-pollinated flower,___________________________________________________________________

2. a wind-pollinated flower. ____________________________________________________________________

What process follows pollination in the life cycle of a flowering plant?_______________________________________

Describe the development of pollen grains from microspore mother cells. ____________________________________

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Where does fertilisation occur in the flower?______________________________________________________________

From what structure in the carpel does the seed develop? __________________________________________________

State two locations in the seed where food may be stored. _________________________________________________

The embryo plant within the seed has a number of parts. List two of these parts, apart from food stores, and give a role
for each of them.

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Following dispersal, the seed undergoes a period of dormancy. What is dormancy?

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Suggest two advantages of dormancy.

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Distinguish between integument and testa

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Give a brief account of the process of fertilisation in flowering plants.

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After fertilisation which part of the flower becomes the fruit? ________________________________________________

What is the embryo?_________________________________________________________________________________

What is the growth of an embryo into a plant called?_______________________________________________________

What are the conditions needed for germination?__________________________________________________________

What is meant by germination? ________________________________________________________________________

What term is used to describe a seeds period of inactivity? __________________________________________________

Which part of the embryo in a germinating seed gives rise to the root and the shoot.

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Suggest one way in which a knowledge of dormancy is useful to farmers and gardeners.

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Describe the effect of water, oxygen and suitable temperature on the process of germination.

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Explain the term dispersal ____________________________________________________________________________

Give two advantages of dispersal to the plant._____________________________________________________________

Name two methods of dispersal. _______________________________________________________________________

How are blackberries dispersed? ________________How are sycamore dispersed? ______________________________

Name a plant in which the leaves are modified for food storage _____________________________________________

Name a carbohydrate that you would expect to find in the leaves of the plant named above _______________________

Name a type of modified stem that functions in food storage…_______________________________________________

Give one example of vegetative propagation and state whether it involves a stem, a root, a leaf or a bud.

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Artificial propagation is widely used in horticulture. Give two examples of artificial propagation.

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Suggest one advantage and one disadvantage of artificial propagation.

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Name 2 methods of artificially propagating plants._________________________________________________________

What is meant by vegetative propagation? _______________________________________________________________

Clones are genetically identical individuals. Are the products of vegetative propagation clones? Explain your answer.

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Give two differences between vegetative propagation and propagation involving seeds.

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State a location in the seed where food is stored. ________________ Name the carbohydrate stored there __________
Put the following words in their correct order:
germination seed and fruit formation growth fertilisation dispersal pollination

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Distinguish between tubers and bulbs

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Name an investigation in which you used starch agar and the precise purpose for its use in the investigation that you
have indicated.

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Name an investigation in which you used Alkaline pyrogallol or anaerobic jar and the precise purpose for its use in the
investigation that you have indicated

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Answer the following questions in relation to practical work you carried out to investigate digestive activity in
germinating seeds.

Name a plant that provides suitable seeds for this investigation.______________________________________________

What is meant by the term digestion? ___________________________________________________________________

Why is digestion necessary in a germinating seed?_________________________________________________________

What is an agar plate?________________________________________________________________________________

What extra food material is added to the agar plate to show digestive activity during germination?__________________

Outline the procedures that you carried out in setting up this demonstration.

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The seeds were divided into two batches. One batch was used untreated. How did you treat the other batch of seeds
before using them in the investigation?

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Explain why you treated the second batch of seeds in this way._______________________________________________
What control did you use for this demonstration? _________________________________________________________

What procedure did you carry out in order to show that digestive activity had taken place?

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Describe the results that you obtained in the experimental plate and the control plate.

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Answer the following questions about an investigation that you carried out on the effect of water, oxygen and
temperature on germination.

Draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus that you used.

What seeds did you use?______________________________________________________________________________

Explain how you set up a control for the investigation.______________________________________________________

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How did you deprive some of the seeds of oxygen? _______________________________________________________

How did you ensure that some of the seeds were deprived of a suitable temperature for germination?

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State the results of the investigation, including those of the control.

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