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    Gymnosperms: Evolution of The Seed: Reduction

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    Кристина Ганищенко
    This document summarizes key events in the evolution of gymnosperms. It describes their adaptations including the evolution of pollen to replace swimming sperm, seeds that replaced spores for dispersal, the development of heterospory with separate male and female spores, improved vascular tissues, and anatomical adaptations for drier environments like cuticles and stomata. The life cycles of modern gymnosperms are shown, which differ from earlier plants by having the sporophyte generation as the dominant phase. Major gymnosperm groups are also outlined.

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    Gymnosperms: Evolution of The Seed: Reduction

    Uploaded by

    Кристина Ганищенко
    31 views28 pages
    This document summarizes key events in the evolution of gymnosperms. It describes their adaptations including the evolution of pollen to replace swimming sperm, seeds that replaced spores for dispersal, the development of heterospory with separate male and female spores, improved vascular tissues, and anatomical adaptations for drier environments like cuticles and stomata. The life cycles of modern gymnosperms are shown, which differ from earlier plants by having the sporophyte generation as the dominant phase. Major gymnosperm groups are also outlined.

    Original Title

    Lecture 09, Gymnosperms

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    This document summarizes key events in the evolution of gymnosperms. It describes their adaptations including the evolution of pollen to replace swimming sperm, seeds that replaced spores for dispersal, the development of heterospory with separate male and female spores, improved vascular tissues, and anatomical adaptations for drier environments like cuticles and stomata. The life cycles of modern gymnosperms are shown, which differ from earlier plants by having the sporophyte generation as the dominant phase. Major gymnosperm groups are also outlined.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    31 views28 pages

    Gymnosperms: Evolution of The Seed: Reduction

    Uploaded by

    Кристина Ганищенко
    This document summarizes key events in the evolution of gymnosperms. It describes their adaptations including the evolution of pollen to replace swimming sperm, seeds that replaced spores for dispersal, the development of heterospory with separate male and female spores, improved vascular tissues, and anatomical adaptations for drier environments like cuticles and stomata. The life cycles of modern gymnosperms are shown, which differ from earlier plants by having the sporophyte generation as the dominant phase. Major gymnosperm groups are also outlined.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 28

    Gymnosperms: Evolution of the Seed

    Major Themes in Land Plant Evolution

    Progressive reduction of the gametophyte stage


    Independent sporophyte
    Evolution of pollen (replaces swimming sperm)
    Evolution of the seed (replaces spores as dispersal agent)
    Homospory  Heterospory (separate male and female spores)

    also... Improved vascular tissues


    Increased height and structural strength
    Anatomical + physiological adaptations to drier environments
    Adaptations to Dry Living:
    Stomata and Cuticle
    Cuticle = waxy protective layer on the outside of cells that prevents
    water loss

    In stomata (singular = stoma), guard cells open to allow CO2 to enter


    open pores..
    Reduction of Gametophyte
    Gymnosperm Angiosperm
    Bryophyte Fern

    Gametophyte is visible
    Gametophyte is microscopic
    -
    Homosporous vs. Heterosporous

    Sporangium Megasporangium Microsporangium

    Spores Megaspores Microspores

    Gametophyte Mega-gametophyte Micro-gametophyte

    Archegonium Antheridium Archegonium Antheridium

    Egg Sperm Egg Sperm

    Zygote Zygote
    Bryophyte life cycle
    Gametophyte
    is dominant

    -
    -
    Seedless vascular plant life cycle

    Sporophyte
    is dominant

    - Sperm must still swim to reach egg


    - Little protection for the embryo
    -
    Appeared ~360
    million years ago
    Seed plants

    4 phyla Gymnosperms -
    -
    -
    Gymnosperms
    Sporophylls: modified leaves that contain sporangia (spore-producers)

    FEMALE MALE
    megasporangium 2N microsporangium
    meiosis
    1 of 4
    cells megaspore N
    survives
    Gymnosperms
    Sporophylls: modified leaves that contain sporangia (spore-producers)

    FEMALE MALE
    megasporangium 2N microsporangium

    megaspore N microspore

    female gametophyte male gametophyte grows


    inside pollen grain
    archegonia

    sperm
    egg
    Development of the gymnosperm seed from an ovule in Pinus sp.

    Gymnosperm ovules have 1 protective outer layer, or integument,


    composed of tissue from sporophyte (mom’s tissue)

    Pollen grain grows a pollen tube of haploid cells to penetrate the


    micropyle, the opening through the integument; releases sperm

    Fertilized egg grows into embryo, surrounded by female gametophyte


    tissue (its food) and the sporophyte’s integument (its protection)
    Gymnosperms
    Strobilus (= cone) is a branch tip specialized for reproduction
    Leaves are modified into..

    Mature female
    pine cone
    Gymnosperms
    Strobilus (= cone) is a branch tip specialized for reproduction
    Leaves are modified into sporophylls

    Megasporangium
    Gymnosperm life cycle
    Life cycle of Pinus sp.

    heterospory

    “ovule”
    (developing
    seed)

    “seed”
    (after fertilization)
    Pine ovule after formation of the megagametophyte, archegonium & egg(s)

    Stern 1991
    Pine ovule at the fertilization stage

    egg
    zygote
    sperm

    second sperm nucleus

    Raven et al. 1986


    Pine seed showing embryo (baby sporophyte) within nutritive tissue,
    surrounded by a seed coat

    2n
    n embryo (2n)

    Gametophyte (n)

    Raven et al. 1986


    Phylum Ginkgophyta – Ginkgo biloba

    Only 1 living species, almost identical to


    fossils 150 million years old
    Phylum Cycadophyta – about 160 species
    Phylum Gnetophyta
    (~ 70 species)
    Phylum Coniferophyta
    Conifers – cone bearing

    entirely wind-pollinated
    fertilization can take a year to occur
    Cross-section of a pine needle showing adaptations to drought

    Dense packing of cells

    Sunken stomata

    Thick cuticle

    Raven et al. 1986


    Transport tissues
    (secondary xylem &
    phloem) in a pine
    tree provide
    improved long-
    distance transport
    and structural
    support wood
    Raven et al. 1986
    Biggest + oldest
    Height: coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) >100 m tall
    Mass: giant redwoods (Sequoiadendron gigantea) > 26 m. circumference

    Age: bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata)


    4900 years old
    Economic importance of conifers

    Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia)


    Evolution of Plant Biodiversity

    Gymnosperms
    Seedless
    dominate
    vascular
    # of families

    plants

    Angiosperms
    First
    gymnosperms

    Mackenzie 2003

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