| Term | Definition | NEET Context |
|---|---|---|
| Androecium | Male reproductive whorl of a flower; comprises stamens (filament + anther) | Third whorl; produces pollen |
| Anther | Pollen-producing part of a stamen; contains microsporangia | Has 4 pollen sacs |
| Antipodal cells | 3 haploid cells at chalazal end of embryo sac; nutritive function | Degenerate after fertilization |
| Apomixis | Asexual seed production without fertilization | Produces clones; agricultural importance |
| Autogamy | Self-pollination within the same flower | No genetic variation |
| Chalaza | End of ovule opposite the micropyle; location of antipodals | Chalazal end |
| Cleistogamy | Flowers that never open; obligate autogamy | Example: Commelina |
| Dichogamy | Anthers and pistils mature at different times; outbreeding device | Protandry + Protogyny |
| Dicliny | Unisexual flowers ; outbreeding device | Papaya = dioecious |
| Double fertilization | Simultaneous syngamy + triple fusion; unique to angiosperms | Most tested concept |
| Egg apparatus | Egg cell + 2 synergids at micropylar end | Fertilization site |
| Embryo sac | Female gametophyte; 7-celled, 8-nucleate | Critical for NEET |
| Endosperm | Triploid (3n) nutritive tissue for embryo; from PEN | 3n is THE key fact |
| Exine | Outer pollen wall layer; made of sporopollenin | Most resistant material |
| Filiform apparatus | Wall ingrowth of synergids; guides pollen tube | Synergid-specific feature |
| Geitonogamy | Pollination between flowers of same plant | Genetically self; ecologically cross |
| Germ pore | Thin exine region (no sporopollenin); pollen tube exits here | Site of pollen tube emergence |
| Gynoecium | Female reproductive whorl; pistils (stigma + style + ovary) | Fourth whorl |
| Intine | Inner pollen wall; cellulose + pectin; grows into pollen tube | Extensible layer |
| Megasporogenesis | Formation of megaspores from MMC (2n) by meiosis | 4 produced, 3 degenerate |
| Micropyle | Opening in ovule through which pollen tube enters | Also entry for water during germination |
| Microsporogenesis | Formation of microspores (pollen) from PMC (2n) by meiosis | PMC (2n) → microspore (n) |
| Parthenocarpy | Fruit development without fertilization → seedless fruit | Banana example |
| PEN | Primary endosperm nucleus (3n); product of triple fusion | PEN → endosperm |
| Pistil | Female reproductive unit: stigma + style + ovary | May have multiple per gynoecium |
| Polar nuclei | 2 haploid nuclei in central cell; fuse with sperm → PEN | Each is n |
| Polyembryony | Multiple embryos in one seed | Citrus example |
| Pollination | Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma | Prerequisite for fertilization |
| Self-incompatibility | Pistil genetically rejects own pollen | Outbreeding device |
| Sporopollenin | Most resistant biological material; in exine | Resists heat, acid, alkali, enzymes |
| Synergid | 2 haploid cells flanking egg; filiform apparatus; guide pollen tube | Degenerate post-fertilization |
| Syngamy | Fusion of sperm with egg → zygote (2n) | One of two events in double fertilization |
| Triple fusion | 1 sperm + 2 polar nuclei → PEN (3n) | Other event in double fertilization |
| Xenogamy | Cross-pollination between different plants | Promotes genetic variation |
| Zygote | Diploid cell (2n) formed by syngamy; develops into embryo | First cell of new sporophyte generation |
Part of REP-01 — Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Glossary — Key Terms in REP-01
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