TOPIC: PLANT LIFE

SUB-TOPIC: FERTILIZATION

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What is fertilization?

This is the union or fusion of the male and female gametes to

form a zygote or embryo.

In flowering plants, fertilization takes place inside the ovary of a

flower.

The male cells are the pollen grains while the female cells are
the ovules.
Uses of flowers to plants.

1. Flowers are the reproductive parts of a plant. They enable the plant to
reproduce.
2. Flowers help to produce seeds which are planted to produce ,more plants.

Uses of flowers to people.

2. Flowers are used for decoration in our homes, at introduction and

weddings ceremonies, graduation parties. Etc.

2. Some flowers like the rose flower are used to get perfumes.
3. Some flowers are used to get insecticide like pyrethrum.

4. Some flowers are used as food like cauliflowers, broccoli.

5. People sell flowers for income and work.

6. People put flowers on coffins and graves as a way of showing love and respect to their
dear ones who have died.

7. Visitors from other countries receive flowers as a sign of love and welcome when they
are at the airport.

8. Some people exchange flowers with their loved ones on days like valentines day as a
sign of love.
Uses of flowers to birds, animals and insects.

1. Some birds feed on nectar from the flowers.

2. Insects like moths, bees and butterfly get nectar from flowers as their food.

3. Bees get nectar from flowers to make their own honey.

4. Some insects like beetles eat the flower petals as food.

Tropisms.

Tropism is the growth movement of plants in response to stimulus or

stimuli.

Stimuli is any change in the environment to which the plant is sensitive.

There are five different kinds of tropism namely;

1. Phototropism.
This is the growth movement or response of a plant shoot towards light.
2. Geotropism.
This is the growth movement or response of a plants’ roots towards the
direction force of gravity.

3. Hydrotropism.
This is the growth movement or response of plant roots to the source of
water.
4. Thigmotropism.
This is the growth movement of certain parts of some plants in response to
the stimuli of a touch on one side. This is the stimuli which helps climbing
plants such as beans to clasp other plants when touched.

5. Chemotropism.
This is the growth movement of plant parts in response to sources of
chemicals. For example pollen tubes grow on the stigma, through the style
towards the ovary and finally towards the ovule
 Summary of tropism and stimuli

Tropism/response stimuli

1. Phototropism Light
2. Geotropism Force of gravity
3. Hydrotropism Water and moisture
4. Thigmotropism Touch
5. Chemotropism Chemicals