Reproduction of Plants

Sexual reproduction is one of the major characteristics of eukaryotes and involves a regular alternation between meiosis and fertilization. This course focuses on the basic principles of plant reproduction and the evolution of reproductive strategies in mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms. This knowledge is used as basis to understand the concepts that underlie sexual reproduction in dicot and monocot angiosperm species. Topics including flower induction, flower development, fertilization, embryogenesis, seed development and dispersal, and fruit-development are covered.
This course aims to develop insight into evolutionary, regulatory and structural aspects of the reproductive strategies of plants. During the practicals experimental techniques used to obtain insight in structural aspects and developmental processes associated with plant reproduction are taught and practiced. These activities aim to prepare students to independently interpret reproductive strategies of any plant species.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Recognize and describe the reproductive structures of mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms (dicots, eudicots and monocots)
• Describe the main evolutionary steps in reproductive strategy, plant structure and anatomy from mosses to angiosperms
• Make and interpret (microscopical) preparations of plants from different evolutionary groups with a focus on their reproductive structures and document the findings
• Apply methods of investigation in cell biological and structural studies in the field of plant reproduction
• Explain how the reproductive strategies of plants constrain their habitats
• Design, carry out, interpret and document experiments in the field of reproductive strategies of plants

Mandatory Knowledge:
ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety
Assumed Knowledge:
PPH10806 Structure and Function of Plants.