NARA'S NOTEPAD: March 2022

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 19

MARCH 2022

NUMBER 3

NARA'S NOTEPAD

IS SUPPORTED BY READERS LIKE YOU

IF YOU ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD, YOU MUST BE GOING BACKWARDS

PLANT REPRODUCTION

In biology, reproduction is an important event in every species for perpetuation.

The process of reproduction in plants has been studied by most physiologists, molecular biologists and plant geneticists.

Considerable quantum of information on plant reproduction is available in scientific literature.

It is interesting to look into that information for our understanding of plants and their life-cycle.

Although we see every day thousands of plant species around us, in our gardens, in others’ gardens, on the roadside, on the wasteland, in parks and forests, we fail to think about their life-cycle.

One of the hobbies to develop and become a full-fledged botanist is to look around and try to understand those plants which grow around us.

I used to think of them very often, whenever I get some time to relax.

Plants are really helping human beings by offering food, materials for shelter and medicine to cure diseases.

Such useful plants which grow around us and some we grow in gardens or pots or rooftops depending on the space available are really the useful companions of us.

Ornamental plants really beautify our houses.

Only a few people get interested in plants, although many more do not hate them.

Plant reproduction has been studied at the physiological, biochemical, genetic and molecular levels.

It has been shown that several different kinds of molecules can control the transition to flowering. the roadside, on the wasteland, in parks and forests, we fail to think about their life-cycle.

When it occurs and why this happens are some of the preliminary questions anyone can pose.

Flowers are the organs of reproduction in plants.

We see some plants flower only in summer or in winter and some others flower throughout the year irrespective of seasons.

The initiation of reproduction generally requires the perception and response to the appropriate environmental factors like different wavelengths and duration of light and temperature.

These factors play an important role to change the metabolism of plants and cause the initiation of reproductive apices suppressing the vegetative structure.

It has been shown that a number of different kinds of molecules can control the transition to flowering.

They include carbohydrates, plant hormones (auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins) and calcium.

The mechanism of action of these metabolites is being worked out for understanding the physiology of reproduction with a certain degree of precision.

The flower primordial thus produced start growing into a bud containing the male and female structures called the stamens and carpels.

The stamens consist of a filament topped by a complex anther structure within which we find pollen grains (microspores).

The carpels develop into the female organs – the pistil with stigma (the receptor of the pollen), style and ovary (the basal part where the ovules are present).

When both stamens and carpels are present in the same flower, it is called ‘perfect.’

The male and female flowers may be on a single plant (monoecy) or on separate plants (dioecious) like in palmyra.

Flowers are colourful with brightly coloured petals often play an indirect role in reproduction, attracting pollinating agents like birds and insects.

The colour of the petal is produced by the presence of pigments like anthocyanins.

In-plant reproduction, pollination is the primary process that starts by the transfer of pollen grains to the pistil type called stigma.

The pollens deposited on the stigma start growing by producing a tube called pollen tube which grows through the pistil and reaches the embryo sac.

The sperm cell from the pollen tube meets the egg cells and fertilization takes place.

Although many pollen tubes grow to reach the egg cells, only one can fertilize one egg cell; the rests of them die without getting a chance.

The fusion of the male sperm cell with the egg cell ultimately results in successful fertilization.

The net result is the birth of an embryo and its development is coordinated not only with that of the endosperm but also with that of the fruit which is formed by the ovary.

Plant reproduction from the transformation of vegetative to reproductive apex to the formation of fruits is an interplay of hormones and many metabolites with the involvement of various genes which trigger the whole process.

The plants perpetuate through reproduction by producing a huge quantity of seeds.

A portion of which is consumed by humans as food for their survival.

Thus Nature has produced plants for human survival through their reproduction. - NARA

Writing is a form of creativity, and creativity is one of the best antidotes to mental or emotional confusion and burn-out. When you feel like you've thought a problem to death, stop thinking. Turn to creativity and engage the right side of your brain. And allow the answers to come to you.

HELP PEOPLE TO BE HUMAN

1 Define your goals. What do you want to achieve in life? What are your priorities?

2 Make a plan. Once you know what you want, figure out how to get there.

3 Take action. Start working towards your goals today.

4 Track your progress. Keep track of what you're doing and how it's going by writing things down.

5 Make a promise to yourself. Write out an oath in which you swear to act towards your goals and never give up.

Clear the Mental Obstacles in Your Path

6 Get out of your own way. Don't let fear stop you from starting and achieving your goals.

7 Be confident that you will accomplish what you set out to do.

8 Become aware of the excuses you tell yourself as a cover for procrastination and laziness.

9 Just do it! Don't overthink things; just take the first step and keep going from there.

10 Stop comparing yourself to others and start living your own life.

11 Say yes more often. When someone asks you to do something, say yes!

12 Take on new challenges. Remember, a new habit is much easier to keep than the one you've been working on for years.

SOME GOOD ADIVCES

1. Allow yourself to succeed at something new.

a. Learn from rejection and criticism by taking it in stride and listening to what other people have to say when you're being tested or challenged in some way.

2. Don't say no until you've thought about what it is that you're saying no to.

3. Train Your Brain

a. Think positively. Affirmations are great for repeating positive statements to yourself when you need a little cheering up or motivation.

b. Use visualization techniques to imagine yourself achieving your goals.

c. Solve your problems by first thinking about them before acting or speaking.

d. Challenge yourself to learn something new every day.

e. Take time for yourself to relax and recharge.

4. Start Eating Better

a. Start eating better by planning your meals and thinking about how much you're eating.

b. Limit high-calorie snacks like sugary candy bars, pastries, and potato chips to once a week or once every other day if you can't resist them.

c. Make it easy for yourself by keeping healthy food around the house and at work.

d. Drink more water. It's great for your skin, hair, and overall health.

e. Avoid eating late at night.

f. Try to eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods.

g. Eat breakfast every day to start your day off right.

h. Cut down on processed meats like beef, pork, and chicken.

5. Get Moving

a. Get moving just a bit every day by taking walks or riding your bike to work.

b. Start with small goals that are easy for you to achieve, so you'll have an easier time reaching the ones that follow.

We are the first generation to fee; tje effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it. – Barack Obama

It’s absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious. – Oscar Wilde

JUST TO LAUGH

My brother came back from school all motivated because he said he would be following a new diet from that day. We didn't really give it much thought until my brother really started eating his homework for dinner. When we stopped him and asked why he was doing that, he replied, "I was just trying to see how it tasted because my teacher said that the homework would be a piece of cake for me."

In my neighbourhood, there was a couple who had given their twin sons very weird names. One was named Trouble, while the other boy's name was Mind Your Own Business. So, one day they were playing hide and seek. Mind Your Business counted to a hundred and then started looking for his brother. But, somehow he couldn't find him anywhere. He saw a police car passing the neighborhood, so he stopped it to ask for help. When the police officer asked him for his name, he replied, "Mind Your Own Business!" Feeling insulted, the police officer still asked politely who he was looking for. Mind Your Own Business replied, "I am looking for Trouble!"