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Cucumber pollen, SEM
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Cucumber pollen, SEM
Cucumber pollen. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of pollen grains (green) from a cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus). Each pollen grain contains a male gamete (reproductive cell) that is intended to fertilise ovules or eggs (the female gametes) of another flower, initiating the formation of a seed. Cucumber plants ordinarily have both male and female flowers on the same plant, and some agent is required to transfer the pollen between flowers of the same or of different plants. The outer wall (exine) of each pollen grain is highly sculpted to aid the dispersal of the pollen grains but, as with other cucurbits, cucumber pollen is large and sticky, so pollination relies heavily on bees
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Media ID 6288231
© SUSUMU NISHINAGA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Cucumber Exine False Colour Fertilisation Fertilization Fruit Gamete Gametes Large Plant Anatomy Pollen Pollen Grain Pollen Grains Pollination Re Production Reproductive Sex Cell Sticky Cells Cucumis Sativus False Coloured
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This print showcases the intricate beauty of cucumber pollen. In this coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM), we are presented with a mesmerizing view of green pollen grains from a cucumber plant, scientifically known as Cucumis sativus. Each grain contains a male gamete, or reproductive cell, which plays a crucial role in fertilizing the ovules or eggs of another flower to initiate seed formation. Cucumber plants typically bear both male and female flowers on the same plant, but they require assistance for successful pollination between flowers of the same or different plants. The outer wall, known as exine, of each pollen grain is remarkably sculpted to aid in its dispersal. However, unlike other cucurbits, cucumber pollen is relatively large and sticky. Consequently, bees play an essential role in transferring this sticky pollen between flowers due to their natural affinity for it. The false-coloured SEM image not only highlights the biological intricacies at play but also emphasizes the significance of pollinators like bees in ensuring successful reproduction for these plants. This photograph serves as a reminder of nature's remarkable mechanisms and how seemingly small organisms contribute to our ecosystem's vitality.
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