embryo
Quick Summary
The plant embryo is the early stage of a plant's life, developing from a fertilized egg (zygote) within a seed. It is essentially a miniature plant, consisting of a short axis with one or two seed leaves called cotyledons. These cotyledons can store food reserves or help the embryo absorb nutrients from the seed's endosperm or other tissues.1234
The embryo's development involves cell division and differentiation to form primary organs like the root (radicle) and shoot (apical meristem). During its early growth, the embryo is nutritionally dependent on the parent plant, either through the gametophyte or, in flowering plants, the endosperm. This dependence continues until the seedling can photosynthesize and produce its own food.13546
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plant developmentEmbryo formationIn vascular plants embryo formation, or embryogenesis, usually occurs within a few hours after fertilization, with the first cell division that cleaves the zygote, or fertilized egg, into two daughter cells. Thereafter, rapid cell division provides the building blocks…
Read MoreIn vascular plants embryo formation, or embryogenesis, usually occurs within a few hours after fertilization, with the first cell division that cleaves the zygote, or fertilized egg, into two daughter cells. Thereafter, rapid cell division provides the building blocks…
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plantLife histories…mitotically to form a multicellular embryo (embryogenesis), which is protected by either gametophytic tissues (such as remnants of archegonia in the nonseed land plants) or sporophytic tissues (the seed in the seed plants). An embryo, which is actually an immature sporophyte, is universally found among the land plants and often…
Read More…mitotically to form a multicellular embryo (embryogenesis), which is protected by either gametophytic tissues (such as remnants of archegonia in the nonseed land plants) or sporophytic tissues (the seed in the seed plants). An embryo, which is actually an immature sporophyte, is universally found among the land plants and often…
Read More- plantDefinition of the category
…undifferentiated sporophyte is called an embryo. Although bryophytes have become adapted to life on land, an apparent vestige of their aquatic ancestry is that the motile (flagellated) sperm depend on water to allow gamete transport and fertilization.
Read More…undifferentiated sporophyte is called an embryo. Although bryophytes have become adapted to life on land, an apparent vestige of their aquatic ancestry is that the motile (flagellated) sperm depend on water to allow gamete transport and fertilization.
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fernEmbryo…cell divisions to form the embryo, which remains encapsulated in the gametophyte until it breaks out and becomes an independent plant. The pattern of development in most ferns is a distinctive one, and indeed only in the Botrychium subgenus Sceptridium and in all species of the family Marattiaceae thus far…
Read More…cell divisions to form the embryo, which remains encapsulated in the gametophyte until it breaks out and becomes an independent plant. The pattern of development in most ferns is a distinctive one, and indeed only in the Botrychium subgenus Sceptridium and in all species of the family Marattiaceae thus far…
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magnoliid cladeReproduction and life cycles…contains a minute, relatively undifferentiated embryo, which occupies only a small part of the seed at maturity. Such plants are at a disadvantage. Because the embryos are so extremely small at the time that the seeds are shed, considerable time is lost while the embryo develops further—i.e., before the actual…
Read More…contains a minute, relatively undifferentiated embryo, which occupies only a small part of the seed at maturity. Such plants are at a disadvantage. Because the embryos are so extremely small at the time that the seeds are shed, considerable time is lost while the embryo develops further—i.e., before the actual…
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angiospermVegetative structures…cell division to form an embryo—a simple multicellular structure of undifferentiated cells (i.e., those that have not developed into cells of a specific type)—and eventually a mature plant. The embryo consists of a bipolar axis that bears one or two cotyledons, or seed leaves; in most eudicots the cotyledons contain…
Read More…cell division to form an embryo—a simple multicellular structure of undifferentiated cells (i.e., those that have not developed into cells of a specific type)—and eventually a mature plant. The embryo consists of a bipolar axis that bears one or two cotyledons, or seed leaves; in most eudicots the cotyledons contain…
Read More- angiospermFertilization and embryogenesis
…to form a multicellular, undifferentiated embryo. At the micropylar end there develops a basal stalk or suspensor, which disappears after a very short time and has no obvious function in angiosperms. At the chalazal end (the region opposite the micropyle) is the embryo proper. Differentiation of the embryo—e.g., the development…
Read More…to form a multicellular, undifferentiated embryo. At the micropylar end there develops a basal stalk or suspensor, which disappears after a very short time and has no obvious function in angiosperms. At the chalazal end (the region opposite the micropyle) is the embryo proper. Differentiation of the embryo—e.g., the development…
Read More - flowerPollination
…egg cell, which becomes an embryo, and the other joins with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm. (Normally many pollen grains fall on a stigma; they all may germinate, but only one pollen tube enters any one ovule.) Following fertilization, the embryo is on its way to becoming a…
Read More…egg cell, which becomes an embryo, and the other joins with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm. (Normally many pollen grains fall on a stigma; they all may germinate, but only one pollen tube enters any one ovule.) Following fertilization, the embryo is on its way to becoming a…
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PoaceaeCharacteristic morphological features…two major parts, endosperm and embryo. Endosperm is a starchy, storage tissue (popcorn is exploded endosperm). The embryo lies between the endosperm and fruit wall with the large scutellum facing the endosperm. The scutellum is thought to be a modified cotyledon, or seed leaf. In grasses this seed leaf never…
Read More…two major parts, endosperm and embryo. Endosperm is a starchy, storage tissue (popcorn is exploded endosperm). The embryo lies between the endosperm and fruit wall with the large scutellum facing the endosperm. The scutellum is thought to be a modified cotyledon, or seed leaf. In grasses this seed leaf never…
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seedAngiosperm seedsThe embryo, variously located in the seed, may be very small (as in buttercups) or may fill the seed almost completely (as in roses and plants of the mustard family). It consists of a root part, or radicle, a prospective shoot (plumule or epicotyl), one or…
Read MoreThe embryo, variously located in the seed, may be very small (as in buttercups) or may fill the seed almost completely (as in roses and plants of the mustard family). It consists of a root part, or radicle, a prospective shoot (plumule or epicotyl), one or…
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gymnospermGeneral features…a new sporophyte generation—the multicellular embryo of the seed. Food for the developing embryo is provided by the massive starch-filled female gametophyte that surrounds it. The time interval between pollination and maturation of the embryo into a new sporophyte generation varies among different groups, ranging from a few months to…
Read More…a new sporophyte generation—the multicellular embryo of the seed. Food for the developing embryo is provided by the massive starch-filled female gametophyte that surrounds it. The time interval between pollination and maturation of the embryo into a new sporophyte generation varies among different groups, ranging from a few months to…
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coniferFertilization and embryogenyThe embryo develops and is fed by the nutritive tissue of the female gametophyte. The embryo rapidly enlarges at the expense of the maternal tissue and initiates typical sporophytic organization, consisting at maturity of a single axis with a root apex at one end and a…
Read MoreThe embryo develops and is fed by the nutritive tissue of the female gametophyte. The embryo rapidly enlarges at the expense of the maternal tissue and initiates typical sporophytic organization, consisting at maturity of a single axis with a root apex at one end and a…
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gnetophytePollination and embryogeny… is formed, and the young embryo then grows downward within the female gametophyte tube toward the cellular female gametophyte.
Read More… is formed, and the young embryo then grows downward within the female gametophyte tube toward the cellular female gametophyte.
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life spanLongevity of seeds…longevity of seeds, the dormant embryo plant contained within the seed will lose its viability (ability to grow) if germination fails to occur within a certain time. Reports of the sprouting of wheat taken from Egyptian tombs are unfounded, but some seeds do retain their viability a long time. Indian…
Read More…longevity of seeds, the dormant embryo plant contained within the seed will lose its viability (ability to grow) if germination fails to occur within a certain time. Reports of the sprouting of wheat taken from Egyptian tombs are unfounded, but some seeds do retain their viability a long time. Indian…
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