# A flowering plant reproduces sexually. Explain how the male gamete reaches the female gamete during sexual reproduction in a flowering plant, and state what type of cell the zygote is. Include in your answer the names of the structures involved.

> Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0) — 2.3 Sexual reproduction in animals and plants · Explain · 5 marks

> In flowering plants, sexual reproduction involves the transfer of genetic material from the male part of the flower to the female part, followed by fertilisation to form a zygote.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Pollen (containing the male gamete) is transferred from the anther to the stigma by pollination
2. A pollen tube grows down through the style towards the ovule
3. The male gamete travels down the pollen tube to the ovule / egg cell (female gamete) inside the ovary
4. Fertilisation occurs when the male gamete fuses with the female gamete (egg cell) to form a zygote
5. The zygote is a diploid cell (contains two copies of each chromosome / a full set of chromosomes)

## Key terms

- [gamete](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/gamete)
- [zygote](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/zygote)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-flowering-plant-reproduces-sexually-explain-532b2350) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.