how did seeds change the course of plant evolution?

Seeds therefore allow plants to disperse the next generation through both space and time. With such evolutionary advantages, seed plants have become the most successful and familiar group of plants.

Full Answer

How did the evolution of seeds allow plants to decrease dependency?

The evolution of seeds allowed plants to decrease their dependency upon water for reproduction. Seeds contain an embryo that can remain dormant until conditions are favorable when it grows into a diploid sporophyte. Seeds are transported by the wind, water, or by animals to encourage reproduction and reduce competition with the parent plant.

How have plant species evolved over time?

Mar 05, 2018 · Seeds therefore allow plants to disperse the next generation through both space and time. With such evolutionary advantages, seed plants have become the most successful and familiar group of plants. Both adaptations expanded the colonization of land begun by the bryophytes and their ancestors.

What are the key points in the evolution of plants?

Seed plants appeared about one million years ago, during the Carboniferous period. Two major innovations—seed and pollen—allowed seed plants to reproduce in the absence of water. The gametophytes of seed plants shrank, while the sporophytes became prominent structures and the diploid stage became the longest phase of the lifecycle.

How did seeds come to be?

Mar 03, 2009 · Evolution of Seed Plants 70 Seeds have tissues from three generations: 1. Seed coatdevelops from the sporophyte parent (integument). 2. Female gametophytic tissue from the next generation contains a nutrient supply for developing embryo. 3. Embryo is the new sporophyte generation. Evolution of Seed Plants 71 Seeds are well-protected resting stages.

How did the evolution of seeds help plants?

The evolution of seeds allowed plants to decrease their dependency upon water for reproduction. Seeds contain an embryo that can remain dormant until conditions are favorable when it grows into a diploid sporophyte.Mar 5, 2021

How did the evolution of seeds in plants impact the human species?

For millennia, human societies have depended upon seed plants for nutrition and medicinal compounds; and more recently, for industrial by-products, such as timber and paper, dyes, and textiles. Palms provide materials including rattans, oils, and dates. Wheat is grown to feed both human and animal populations.

Why are seeds an evolutionary advantage for seed plants Edgenuity?

Why are seed plants an evolutionary advantage? Seeds protect and nourish young, growing plants.

How does the role of seed and pollen relate to the evolution and expansion of plants on dry land?

What role did the adaptations of seed and pollen play in the development and expansion of seed plants? Seeds and pollen allowed plants to reproduce in absence of water. This allowed them to expand their range onto dry land and to survive drought conditions.Dec 28, 2021

When did seed plants first appear?

Fossils place the earliest distinct seed plants at about 350 million years ago. The first reliable record of gymnosperms dates their appearance ...

When were seeds first discovered?

Fossils place the earliest distinct seed plants at about 350 million years ago. The first reliable record of gymnosperms dates their appearance to the Pennsylvanian period, about 319 million years ago ( (Figure) ). Gymnosperms were preceded by progymnosperms, the first naked seed plants, which arose about 380 million years ago.

Why do we need seeds?

Seeds offer the embryo protection, nourishment, and a mechanism to maintain dormancy for tens or even thousands of years, ensuring that germination can occur when growth conditions are optimal. Seeds therefore allow plants to disperse the next generation through both space and time.

What are pollen grains?

Pollen grains are male gametophytes, which contain the sperm (gametes) of the plant. The small haploid (1 n) cells are encased in a protective coat that prevents desiccation (drying out) and mechanical damage. Pollen grains can travel far from their original sporophyte, spreading the plant’s genes.

How are microspores produced?

In each male sporangium, multiple microspores are produced by meiosis. Each microspore produces a small antheridium contained within a spore case. As it develops it is released from the strobilus, and a number of flagellated sperm are produced that then leave the spore case.

When did plants first appear on land?

The first plants to colonize land were most likely related to the ancestors of modern day mosses (bryophytes), which are thought to have appeared about 500 million years ago. They were followed by liverworts (also bryophytes) and primitive vascular plants—the pterophytes—from which modern ferns are descended.

What are fern spores?

Bryophyte and fern spores are haploid cells dependent on moisture for rapid development of multicellular gametophytes. In the seed plants, the female gametophyte consists of just a few cells: the egg and some supportive cells, including the endosperm-producing cell that will support the growth of the embryo.

When were seeds first discovered?

Fossils place the earliest distinct seed plants at about 350 million years ago. The first reliable record of gymnosperms dates their appearance to the Pennsylvanian period, about 319 million years ago (Figure 1). Gymnosperms were preceded by progymnosperms, the first naked seed plants, which arose about 380 million years ago.

How to explain seeds?

By the end of this section, you will have completed the following objectives: 1 Explain when seed plants first appeared and when gymnosperms became the dominant plant group 2 Describe the two major innovations that allowed seed plants to reproduce in the absence of water 3 Discuss the purpose of pollen grains and seeds 4 Describe the significance of angiosperms bearing both flowers and fruit

Why do we need seeds?

The seed offers the embryo protection, nourishment, and a mechanism to maintain dormancy for tens or even thousands of years, ensuring germination can occur when growth conditions are optimal. Seeds therefore allow plants to disperse the next generation through both space and time.

What happens to a zygote after fertilization?

After fertilization, the zygote matures and grows into a sporophyte, which in turn will form sporangia or “spore vessels.”. In the sporangia, mother cells undergo meiosis and produce the haploid spores. Release of spores in a suitable environment will lead to germination and a new generation of gametophytes.

How do angiosperms reproduce?

Both fertilization and embryo development take place inside an anatomical structure that provides a stable system of sexual reproduction largely sheltered from environmental fluctuations. Flowering plants are the most diverse phylum on Earth after insects; flowers come in a bewildering array of sizes, shapes, colors, smells, and arrangements. Most flowers have a mutualistic pollinator, with the distinctive features of flowers reflecting the nature of the pollination agent. The relationship between pollinator and flower characteristics is one of the great examples of coevolution.

When did plants first appear on land?

The first plants to colonize land were most likely closely related to modern day mosses (bryophytes) and are thought to have appeared about 500 million years ago . They were followed by liverworts (also bryophytes) and primitive vascular plants—the pterophytes—from which modern ferns are derived.

What are pollen grains?

The pollen grains are the male gametophytes, which contain the sperm (gametes) of the plant. The small haploid (1 n) cells are encased in a protective coat that prevents desiccation (drying out) and mechanical damage. Pollen grains can travel far from their original sporophyte, spreading the plant’s genes.