Final answer:
Seed development starts in the ovulate cone with the capture of pollen grains, leading to fertilization and zygote formation. The zygote then grows into an embryo, encased in a seed containing nutritive tissues, while the ovary becomes fruit, aiding in seed protection and dispersal. The process can take two or more years in pine trees.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Development of Seeds and Fruits
The process of seed development initiates when a female cone, or ovulate cone, captures pollen grains through a sticky pollination drop at the micropyle, leading to the formation of a pollen tube that grows toward the female gametophyte. The resulting fertilization between the pollen tube's sperm nucleus and the egg nucleus from the gametophyte forms a diploid zygote. Subsequently, this zygote develops into an embryo that is nourished by the female gametophyte and encased by a
seed coat derived from the parent plant's tissue. As for the ovary, after fertilization, it transforms into fruit, playing a crucial role in protecting the developing seeds within and aiding in their dispersal - be it via wind, animals, or other means. The entire formation of the offspring plant is encased in a seed that contains not only the embryo but also nutritive tissues that support initial growth. The fruit, which is essential for seed dispersal, can come in various forms including fleshy, like berries or tomatoes, or dry, like acorns. In the case of pine trees, this entire process can take up to two or more years to complete.