🌿🌿🥰🥰🦠🦠Plant Life Cycle: Stages & Key Processes👈👈🌟🌟🥶🥶🧠🧠🫁🫁

🌿🌿🥰🥰🦠🦠Plant Life Cycle: Stages & Key Processes👈👈🌟🌟🥶🥶🧠🧠🫁🫁

### **Plant Life Cycle: Stages & Key Processes**  

Plants undergo a **life cycle** that includes growth, reproduction, and dispersal. Most plants alternate between **two main stages**: the **haploid (gametophyte)** and **diploid (sporophyte)** phases. Here’s a breakdown of the generalized life cycle, focusing on **flowering plants (angiosperms)**:

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### **1. Seed Stage**  

- **Start of life**: A fertilized seed contains an embryo, stored food (endosperm/cotyledons), and a protective coat.  

- **Dormancy**: Seeds remain inactive until conditions (water, warmth, oxygen) trigger germination.  

### **2. Germination**  

- The seed absorbs water, swells, and the embryo grows.  

- **Radicle (root)** emerges first, followed by the **shoot (plumule)**.  

- Cotyledons (seed leaves) provide initial nutrients.  

### **3. Seedling Stage**  

- Young plant develops **true leaves** (photosynthesis begins).  

- Roots and stems grow to anchor and support the plant.  

### **4. Vegetative Growth**  

- Plant focuses on **leaf, stem, and root development**.  

- Requires sunlight, water, and nutrients (e.g., nitrogen).  

### **5. Reproductive Stage**  

- **Flowering**: Plants produce flowers (sexual reproduction).  

  - **Male part**: Stamen (anther releases pollen).  

  - **Female part**: Pistil (ovary contains ovules).  

- **Pollination**: Pollen transferred (wind, insects, animals) to the stigma.  

- **Fertilization**: Pollen tube delivers sperm to ovule → zygote forms.  

### **6. Seed Formation & Dispersal**  

- Fertilized ovule becomes a **seed**; the ovary becomes a **fruit**.  

- Seeds disperse via wind, water, animals, or explosion (e.g., peas).  

### **7. Senescence & Death** (Annuals/Perennials)  

- **Annuals**: Die after one season (e.g., sunflowers).  

- **Biennials**: Die after two years (e.g., carrots).  

- **Perennials**: Live many years (e.g., trees).  

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### **Alternation of Generations** (All Plants)  

Plants alternate between two multicellular phases:  

1. **Sporophyte (2n)**: Diploid; produces **spores** via meiosis.  

2. **Gametophyte (n)**: Haploid; produces **gametes** (sperm/egg) via mitosis.  

- **In flowering plants**:  

  - Sporophyte is dominant (the visible plant).  

  - Gametophytes are tiny (pollen = male, ovule = female).  

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### **Key Variations**  

- **Non-flowering plants** (e.g., ferns, mosses): Spores replace seeds.  

- **Gymnosperms** (e.g., pine trees): Naked seeds in cones.  

Would you like details on a **specific plant type** (e.g., moss, fern, or crop plants)? 🌱🌻

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