Question

What happens to the flower after pollination?

Answer 1

Hint: Flowering plants are known as Angiosperms. Pollination refers to the transfer of pollen grains which is the male gametophyte containing the male gametes to the stigma of the female reproductive system. Many pollinating agents help in this process.

Complete answer:
After pollination, the pollen grains land on the stigma of the female reproductive system which is a cushion like structure and functions as a landing platform for the pollen grains. Afterwards a pollen tube forms by elongation of the layers of the pollen grains. The tube passes through a style which is a tube-like structure of the female organs. The tube extends till the ovary, which contains the ovule which contains the female gametes. A pollen grain contains two male gametes. One of the male gamete fuses with the female gamete or the egg to form the diploid zygote by the process of fertilization. The other male gamete fuses with the polar bodies present inside the ovule to form the future endosperm. This process is collectively known as double fertilization. Endosperm provides nutrition to the developing zygote into embryo. The ovules develop into the seeds and the ovaries develop to form the fruit. The other parts such as the style and stigma eventually fall off.

Note:
Pollination is carried out by different factors. On the basis of which it can be distinguished into biotic and abiotic factors. Abiotic agents are the following: air (known as anemophily), water (known as hydrophily). Biotic agents can be by animals (known as zoophily) or insects (known as entomophily).