Plant Reproduction and Biotechnology

• The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma
• can be by wind, water, bee, moth, butterfly, cricket, beetle, wasp, ant, fly, bird, bat

genetically different from their parents

clones of genetically identical organisms

separation of a parent plant into parts that develop into whole plants, is a very common type of asexual reproduction

is the asexual production of seeds from a diploid or haploid cell

• •Nonrecurrent apomixis occurs when the haploid gametophyte gives rise to a haploid individual
• •Recurrent apomixis occurs when meiosis is not completed
• •Adventive embryony occurs when the embryo arises from the integument or other sporophyte cells
• •Vegetative apomixis occurs when the flower is replaced by a bulbil

• 2000 years or more
• –The male pollen grains give rise to seeds without any female interaction

• vegetative reproduction
• •Asexual reproduction can be beneficial to a successful plant in a stable environment
• •However, a clone of plants is vulnerable to local extinction if there is an environmental change

cuttings

a mass of dividing undifferentiated cells that forms where a stem is cut and produces adventitious roots

a twig or bud can be grafted onto a plant of a closely related species or variety

the root system

is grafted onto the stock

genetically modified to express a gene from another organism

• –In a general sense, it refers to innovations in the use of plants to make useful products
• –In a specific sense, it refers to use of GM organisms in agriculture and industry

Organisms that contain the genes from unrelated species

• –Produce proteins to defend them against insect pests
• –Tolerate herbicides
• –Resist specific diseases
• –Prevent farmers from storing seeds

a transgenic variety being developed to address vitamin A deficiencies among the world’s poor

• –Bacteria that contain proteins that kill insects
• –Bacteria can be used as a pesticide or larvacide
• •Endospores
• •Crystalline form of endotoxins

• •Toxin is specific to two insect orders
• •Does not affect non-target species unlike sprayed form
• •Safe for humans
• •Dramatic reduction in pesticide usage
• •Farmers beholden to corporate products
• •Non-target species can be affected (relatives of pest species)

• energy sources derived from living sources
• •Ethanol
• •Sugar Cane, Corn,Switchgrass

• •Recycled cooking oils
• •Animal fats
• •Plant based oils

• •Algae used to produce
• –Oil
• –Gasoline (with refining)
• –Alcohol
• –Hydrogen

• •Removes agricultural lands from food production
• •Can use more fossil fuels to produce than is saved
• •Can be more carbon neutral
• •Can remove dependence on foreign sources of energy
• •Can produce less pollutants