 | First the pine tree must produce
two different kinds of cones. The seed cone and the pollen cone. The seed cone containing
the egg and the pollen cone containing the pollen grains with the sperm nuclei
inside. |
| These spores grow into microscopic gametophytes
within the seed that live directly on the sporophyte plant. |
| The spores in the gymnosperm's seed
cone become the female gametophyte and produce the eggs that are fertilized by
large amounts of blown (by the wind) pollen grains. Which is the spores in the pollen cone
known as the male gametophytes that produce the sperm nuclei mentioned
before. |
| When the sperm nucleus emerges from
the pollen and fertilizes the egg. It becomes diploid. The egg has received one set of
chromosomes from the sperm and one set from the egg. |
| Then the fertilized egg divides
through mitosis and grows into and embryo inside a seed in the seed cone. The embryo
being a young sporophtye. |
| Finally the seed will be shed and
will soon reach a suitable enviroment for it to grow into a new gymnosperm. To make it
possible to grow it uses the stored food inside of the seed. |
| The cycle reoccurs when the cones
are ready. |
