This guide covers IGCSE Biology topic 16 (part 1): reproduction in plants. You will revise flower structure (stamen, carpel, petal, sepal), pollination (wind, insect), fertilisation (pollen tube, fusion of nuclei), and seed and fruit formation.

Key concepts to revise

• Flower – Stamen (anther, filament): male; carpel (stigma, style, ovary): female. Petals attract; sepals protect.
• Pollination – Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma. Wind- and insect-pollinated flowers: know adaptations (e.g. sticky stigma, light pollen).
• Fertilisation – Pollen tube grows to ovule; male nucleus fuses with egg nucleus; zygote forms; seed develops.
• Seed dispersal – Wind, animal, explosion; reduces competition; colonise new areas.

Exam tips and command words

• Label the flower – Stamen, carpel, anther, stigma, ovary, ovule; state function of each.
• Describe – The process of pollination and fertilisation (pollen tube, fusion of nuclei).
• Compare – Wind- vs insect-pollinated flowers (petals, pollen, stigma, nectar).
• Explain – Why seed dispersal is important (reduce competition; spread to new areas).

Common mistakes

• Confusing pollination (pollen to stigma) with fertilisation (fusion of nuclei in ovule).
• Saying the “pollen fertilises the egg” (pollen tube carries male nucleus to ovule; nuclei fuse).
• Not stating that the ovary becomes the fruit and the ovule becomes the seed.

Revision checklist

• Label a diagram of a flower and state the function of stamen, carpel, anther, stigma, ovary.
• Describe pollination and fertilisation in order (pollen → stigma → pollen tube → ovule → fusion).
• Compare wind- and insect-pollinated flowers (two adaptations each).
• State what the ovary and ovule become after fertilisation (fruit, seed).

Next steps

Book a free trial with an IGCSE Biology tutor to practise plant reproduction questions, or explore Tutopiya’s learning portal for more revision resources.

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