Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does pollination lead to seed formation in flowering plants?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Seed
Fruit and seeds of the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). The fruit is an aggregate of follicles, and each follicle bears a single red seed.
In flowering plants, seed formation is a direct result of pollination followed by fertilization. The process unfolds as follows:
- Pollination: Pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma, the receptive surface of the pistil.12
- Pollen Tube Growth: Once on the stigma, the pollen germinates and grows a pollen tube down through the style toward the ovule located in the ovary.13
- Double Fertilization: Upon reaching the ovule, the pollen tube releases two sperm cells. In a process unique to angiosperms called double fertilization, one sperm fuses with the egg to form a zygote, which develops into an embryo. The second sperm fuses with two polar nuclei to create the endosperm, a nutrient-rich tissue that supports the developing embryo.132
- Seed Development: Following fertilization, the ovule matures into a seed. The protective integuments of the ovule harden to form the seed coat, while the surrounding ovary typically develops into a fruit.342