Gymnosperms: Evolution of the Seed

Major Themes in Land Plant Evolution

Progressive reduction of the gametophyte stage

Independent sporophyte
Evolution of pollen (replaces swimming sperm)
Evolution of the seed (replaces spores as dispersal agent)
Homospory  Heterospory (separate male and female spores)

also... Improved vascular tissues

Increased height and structural strength
Anatomical + physiological adaptations to drier environments
 Adaptations to Dry Living:
Stomata and Cuticle
Cuticle = waxy protective layer on the outside of cells that prevents
water loss

In stomata (singular = stoma), guard cells open to allow CO2 to enter

open pores..
 Reduction of Gametophyte
Gymnosperm Angiosperm
Bryophyte Fern

Gametophyte is visible
Gametophyte is microscopic
-
 Homosporous vs. Heterosporous

Sporangium Megasporangium Microsporangium

Spores Megaspores Microspores

Gametophyte Mega-gametophyte Micro-gametophyte

Archegonium Antheridium Archegonium Antheridium

Egg Sperm Egg Sperm

Zygote Zygote
 Bryophyte life cycle
Gametophyte
is dominant

-
-
 Seedless vascular plant life cycle

Sporophyte
is dominant

- Sperm must still swim to reach egg

- Little protection for the embryo
-
Appeared ~360
million years ago
 Seed plants

4 phyla Gymnosperms -
-
-
 Gymnosperms
Sporophylls: modified leaves that contain sporangia (spore-producers)

FEMALE MALE
megasporangium 2N microsporangium
meiosis
1 of 4
cells megaspore N
survives
 Gymnosperms
Sporophylls: modified leaves that contain sporangia (spore-producers)

FEMALE MALE
megasporangium 2N microsporangium

megaspore N microspore

female gametophyte male gametophyte grows

inside pollen grain
archegonia

sperm
egg
 Development of the gymnosperm seed from an ovule in Pinus sp.

Gymnosperm ovules have 1 protective outer layer, or integument,

composed of tissue from sporophyte (mom’s tissue)

Pollen grain grows a pollen tube of haploid cells to penetrate the

micropyle, the opening through the integument; releases sperm

Fertilized egg grows into embryo, surrounded by female gametophyte

tissue (its food) and the sporophyte’s integument (its protection)
 Gymnosperms
Strobilus (= cone) is a branch tip specialized for reproduction
Leaves are modified into..

Mature female
pine cone
 Gymnosperms
Strobilus (= cone) is a branch tip specialized for reproduction
Leaves are modified into sporophylls

Megasporangium
Gymnosperm life cycle
Life cycle of Pinus sp.

heterospory

“ovule”
(developing
seed)

“seed”
(after fertilization)
Pine ovule after formation of the megagametophyte, archegonium & egg(s)

Stern 1991
Pine ovule at the fertilization stage

egg
zygote
sperm

second sperm nucleus

Raven et al. 1986

Pine seed showing embryo (baby sporophyte) within nutritive tissue,
surrounded by a seed coat

2n
n embryo (2n)

Gametophyte (n)

Raven et al. 1986

Phylum Ginkgophyta – Ginkgo biloba

Only 1 living species, almost identical to

fossils 150 million years old
Phylum Cycadophyta – about 160 species
Phylum Gnetophyta
(~ 70 species)
Phylum Coniferophyta
Conifers – cone bearing

entirely wind-pollinated
fertilization can take a year to occur
Cross-section of a pine needle showing adaptations to drought

Dense packing of cells

Sunken stomata

Thick cuticle

Raven et al. 1986

Transport tissues
(secondary xylem &
phloem) in a pine
tree provide
improved long-
distance transport
and structural
support wood
Raven et al. 1986
 Biggest + oldest
Height: coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) >100 m tall
Mass: giant redwoods (Sequoiadendron gigantea) > 26 m. circumference

Age: bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata)

4900 years old
Economic importance of conifers

Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia)

 Evolution of Plant Biodiversity

Gymnosperms
Seedless
dominate
vascular
# of families

plants

Angiosperms
First
gymnosperms

Mackenzie 2003