Blog Post 10 - Anthers and Stigmas and Styles, Oh My!

       Reproduction in angiosperms is caused by fertilization between the anthers in the male part of the flower and the ovary in the female part of the flower. In the Anthers of the male part of the flower, the diploid cell goes through meiosis to produce four haploid microspore cells. The microspores then undergo mitosis to form pollen grains, which is the male gametophyte in the plant. In the ovary of the female part of the flower, the megaspore mother cell goes through meiosis to produce four haploid megaspore cells. However, one out of the four haploid cells will survive. It will undergo mitosis three times to produce 7 cells in total. Four of the cells that are produced will disintegrate, leaving one egg cell and two haploid nuclei, which form the endosperm mother cell. In fertilization, pollen produced from the stamen is placed on the stigma. Inside the pollen, one cells called the Tube cell creates a path to the ovary. The second cell inside the pollen, the Generative cell, creates two sperm which travel through the tube cell to the ovary. The sperm fertilize with the egg cell and the endosperm mother cell to ultimately produce a seed. 

Brassica Oleracea Flower:

This is a Brassica Oleracea Flower. The green circular object in the middle is the stigma. The darker yellow objects around the stigma are the anthers.

This is a close-up picture of the Sepals, or leaves that protect the bud when it was growing. 

This is a close-up picture of the petals. The petals serve the purpose to attract pollinators like butterflies and bees.

Male Part of the Flower: Stamen

This is the Stamen. The darker yellow tips are the Anthers. The pale yellow strips below the Anthers are the Filaments. Pollen is made in the Anthers.

This is a closer image of the Filaments. The function of the Filaments is to support the Anthers.

Female Part of the Flower: Carpel

The circular, sticky tip is the Stigma. Pollen is collected here. 

This is an image of the style. Sperm from the pollen is transported through a tube inside the Style to the Ovary. 

This is an image of the Style cut in half. The round seed-like objects inside the Style are pollen grains.

The green portion of the Carpel is the Ovary cut in half. Inside the Ovary are the ovules, or unfertilized parts that would develop into a seed. The Ovary is where fertilization occurs.