Final answer:
Gymnosperm fertilization involves exposed female gametophytes on cones and simple fertilization, while angiosperm fertilization features enclosed ovules, double fertilization, and a variety of pollination methods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of fertilization varies significantly between angiosperms and gymnosperms. In gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is exposed on the bracts of the female cone, while in angiosperms, it is enclosed within the ovule, inside the ovary.
Additionally, double fertilization is a unique feature of angiosperms where one sperm fertilizes the egg to form a diploid zygote and another fertilizes the central cell to produce triploid endosperm, enriching the environment for embryo development.
This does not occur in gymnosperms, where fertilization involves only the union of the male and female gametes to form a zygote.
Gymnosperms primarily rely on wind for pollination, using separate male and female cones, whereas angiosperms may employ various pollinators including wind, insects, birds, and animals for transferring pollen to the stigma of a flower.