The Kingdom Plantae
Recall;
Botany is a branch of Biology that deals with the study
of plants; including their structure, properties and
biochemical processes.
A plant is any multicellular eukaryotic life-form
characterised by;
i. Photosynthetic nutrition
ii. Unlimited growth in meristems
iii. Cells with cellulose
iv. Absence of locomotion and nervous systems
v. Life cycles with alternation of generations
The Kingdom Plantae
Thallophyta Tracheophyta
Anthocerotophya Cycadophyta
Bryophyta Ginkgophyta
Charophyta Glaucophyta
Chlorophtya Gnetophyta
Marchantiophyta (Hepatophyta) Lycopodiophyta (Lycophyta)
Magnoliophyta
Pinophyta (Coniferophyta)
Pteridophyta
Kingdom Plantae; Diversity
The kingdom Plantae comprise a diversity of
forms (unicellular to multicellular).
Divisions to be studied include;
Chlorophyta
Phaeophyta Thallophyta
Rhodophyta
Bryophyta and
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Kingdom Plantae; Diversity
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Focus will be on life histories
Reproduction;
In plants it can be sexual or asexual.
Asexual reproduction can involve:
1.fragmentation.
2.Simple cell division (fission).
3.Spore formation.
(a) zoospores.
(a) aplanospores.
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Types of sexual reproduction (syngamy)
1. Isogamy
2. Heterogamy
3. Oogamy
The products for each syngamy are different!
1. Isogamy Zygote
2. Heterogamy Zygote (Zygospore)
3. Oogamy Zygote (Oospore)
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Isogamy:
In isogamous reproduction the fusing gametes are
morphologically similar. These gametes are physiologically
different due to different hormones. The gametes are
represented by (-) and (+) strains to show morphological
isogamy but physiological anisogamy.
Anisogamy/heterogamy:
In anisogamy the fusing gametes are morphologically as well
as physiologically different. These are formed in different
gametangia. The microgametes or male gametes are smaller,
active and formed in large number. The macrogametes or
female gametes are larger, less active and formed in relatively
smaller number e.g., Chlamydomonas.
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Oogamy:
It is the most advanced type of sexual reproduction. The male
gametes or microgametes are formed in antheridia. The female
gamete is large, usually one and formed in female structure
oogonium. During fertilization the male gametes reach
oogonium to fertilize egg and a diploid zygote is formed
Hologamy (a form of Isogamy):
In hologamy the unicellular thallus of opposite strains (-) and (+)
behaves as gametes directly. The thalli fuse to make diploid
zygote e.g., Chlamydomonas.
Autogamy (a form of isogamy):
In autogamy two gametes of same mother cell fuse to form
diploid zygote. Since both gametes are formed by same cell
there is no genetic recombination
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Hologamy vs autogamy
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Life cycles in plants
Period in a species involving all stages i.e. from one
stage to the other similar one.
In plants life cycles are described considering the
inherent changes in ploidy from one generation to the
next.
Based on this there are three types;
1. Haplontic LC
2. Diplontic LC
3. Haplodiplontic LC
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
The above life, is called haplontic,
The only multicellular (vegetative) phase
in the Cycle is haploid i.e. has one set of
chromosomes.
Gametes are mitotically produced.
Mitosis leads to growth
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
The above life, is called haplodiplontic,
The mulicellular (vegetative) phase in the
Cycle are both haploid (i.e. has one set of
chromosomes) or diploid
Gametangia are produced via meiosis and mitosis
leads to its growth.
Haploid plant body called gametophyte
Diploid plant body called sporophyte
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
The above life, is called diplontic,
The multicellular (vegetative) phase in the
diploid phase.
Gametangia are produced via meiosis and NOT
mitosis.
Mitosis leads to growth
Sporophyte most dominant; Rare in plants!!
Kingdom Plantae; Reproduction
Kingdom Plantae; Diversity
This kingdom comprise the most familiar organisms
identified as plants.
They comprise aquatic and land plants. Aquatic
members include divisions;
Chlorophyta (green algae)
Charophyta (charophytes)
Phaeophyta (Brown algae)
Chrysophyta (golden algae & diatoms)
Pyrrhophyta (Dinoflagellates) and
Rhodophyta (red algae)
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Chlorophyta are also called Green Algae
Green algae occupy a diversity of habitats;
Can be found on soil, rocks, water (saline or
fresh) and Wet wood,
Body forms include; unicellular, colonial,
filamentous, Membranous (thallose) and
Tubular.
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Chlamydomonas
Most common unicellular and
motile algae; Chloroplast the most
prominent feature
Chloroplast membrane bound,
Have other features e.g.
mitochondria, Golgi apparatus,
and Endoplasmic reticulum
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Chlamydomonas Reproduction; There is both sexual and
asexual reproduction.
In asexual reproduction the cell becomes nonmotile.
Via mitosis two/four daughter cells are formed. These are
released as zoospores upon lysis of the parental cell wall.
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Sexual Reproduction starts with aggregation of
algal cells. Some flagella chemical facilitates
attraction of pairs
Initially individuals are united by a cytoplasmic
strand. The point of contact between cells dissolves
initiating plasmogamy.
Nuclei of the two cells then unite (karyogamy) into a
single nuclear membrane. Initial cells now are a
zygote.
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Meiosis of the zygote produces four daughter
cells that develop flagella.
The daughter cells emerge (after lysis of the
parental cell wall) to carry on the cycle.
NB: karyogamy & meiosis in this group does
not lead to gene transfer.
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Colonial algae; Volvox the case study;
Individual cells just like chlamydomonas.
They however exist in colonies.
Volvox belong to coenobic colonial algae.
Coenobic colonies have a fixed number of
individuals at the outset (the number is
species specific).
All individual cells are enclosed in a
matrix of gelatin.
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Asexual reproduction in volvox; It is by
mitotic cell divisions of parental cell (forming
autocolonies).
Autocolonies formed by special cells called
Gonidia
Autocolonies detach from parent colony and
swim away to independence.
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
Sexual reproduction
Volvox can be monoecious or dioecious. In
dioecious species, there exist male and female
colonies.
Male colonies produce sperm bundle while female
colonies produce eggs.
When gamete are released fertilization (Oogamy)
results into a zygote. The zygote undergoes
meiosis to produce zoospores.
The zoospores remain attached even as they
further divide mitotically to form a colony
Kingdom Plantae; Divison Chlorophyta
