Summary: Students gain background knowledge for inquiry investigations through dissecting flowers and/or cones and observing pollen grains through compound microscopes. In addition, students conduct either a guided or open inquiry investigation by growing pollen tubes. Through these activities, students become familiar with the role pollen plays in the reproductive system of seed plants. They understand the importance of pollen transport and learn that pollen germinates and grows into the female plant structures to deliver sperm to the ovule. Students communicate with their online mentors about these subjects.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• plantingscience (2016), "Activity Set A: Background for Inquiries Investigating Pollen in Plant Reproduction," https://plantingscience.org/resources/60.

  BibTex | EndNote

1. Pollen and Pollination
2. Where Does Pollen Come From?