Introduction
The life cycle of every living organism consists of a progression through a series of stages. Each phase of the life cycle performs an essential function, both in terms of ensuring the survival of the species as a whole and in terms of the production of an essential byproduct.
The same holds true for plants. Flowering plants and non-flowering plants make up the bulk of the plant kingdom and can be broadly classified into two categories.
Plants that generate flowers for the purpose of reproduction are referred to as flowering plants. Plants that do not produce flowers during their life cycle but instead rely on the spread of spores for reproduction are referred to as non-flowering plants.
Angiosperms are simply another name for flowering plants. Flowers have a wonderful aroma and a range of lovely hues, both of which contribute to our shared affection for them. But I was wondering how these blossoms continue their species.
Pollination is the process by which flowers produce their offspring, which are the seeds. Pollen grains are moved from the male part of the flower to the female section of the flower, which is known as the ovary, during the process known as pollination.
The seeds must be planted in the ground in order for them to germinate; once they do, they must meet certain requirements for the availability of sunlight, food, and water before they can produce roots, leaves, stems, and flowers. And the cycle of life continues on.
There are two distinct groups of them if we further categorize them according to the make-up of their seeds. The first group is referred to as monocotyledons or monocots, and the second group is referred to as dicotyledons or dicot.
Monocot vs Dicot
The primary difference between monocot and dicot is that monocot have one cotyledon while dicots have two. The cotyledon, which is located within the embryo of the seed, is the portion of the embryo that functions as the plant's primary source of energy. The cotyledon of a monocot seed is rather thin, and it does not contain an adequate amount of food material. On the other hand, the cotyledons of dicot seeds are fleshy, and they do contain the necessary nutrients.
You can further differentiate between them by referring to the way the plants' roots have developed. When it comes to dicots, the process begins at the radicle, which is located at the very bottom of the embryo. In the end, the creation of the radicle will result in the formation of root tissue that will be present for a significant portion of the plant's lifespan. In monocots, the radicle does not exist on the plant in any capacity. The development will start off in a random place, most likely at one of the nodes on the stem. As a result, this condition is referred to as prop rots because the affected cells are typically grouped together towards the base of the stem.
When it comes to the leaves, monocots will frequently display a parallel output from the tip of the leaf in the stem down to the end of the plant. This is a characteristic that distinguishes them from dicots. Dicot leaves, on the other hand, typically have an appearance that sometimes reticulates between the major veins of the leaf. These reticulations can be found between the primary veins of the leaf. When it comes to secondary growth, monocots are unable to create wood or bark because they lack the ability to branch out. Dicots undergo secondary growth, which causes their diameter to expand. Therefore, it results in improved wood production. Typical examples of monocot plants include cereals and grasses, whereas dicot plants are more commonly thought of as include fruits, vegetables, spices, and roots. Simply put, dicot plants are responsible for the production of the food that makes up the majority of your typical daily diet.
Difference Between Monocot and Dicot in Tabular Form
| Parameter of Comparison | Monocot | Dicot |
| Definition | Plants that produce seeds with a single cotyledon during the embryo stage are referred to as monocots. | Dicotyledonous plants get their name from the fact that their seeds have two cotyledons. |
| Leaves | The leaves of monocot seed plants have veins that run in parallel to one another. | A structure similar to a net can be seen in the veins of the leaves of dicot seed plants. |
| Flowers | There are three or more of each type of flower present. | There are always multiples of four or five flowers included in a bouquet. |
| Stem | There is a dispersion of vascular bundles. | The vascular bundles form a ring-like structure throughout the body. |
| Roots | Root-like structure made of fibrous material. | Tap root-like structure. |
| Examples | Corn, wheat, rice, sugarcane, banana tree | Mango, orange, tomato, beans, pea |
What is Monocot?
A blooming plant is said to be a monocot if its seeds only have a single cotyledon each.
In monocots, the endosperm, which is the tissue found inside the seed and acts as the primary supply of sustenance for the seed, is typically quite abundant. However, the cotyledon and the endosperm live in different locations within the seed itself.
Aside from the structure of the seeds, monocots are characterized by having leaves that are long and narrow, as well as having parallel veins. The leaves of corn, wheat, and rice all have a distinctive pattern that is very similar to one another.
One of the two categories of flowering plants, often known as "angiosperms," is called a monocotyledon, abbreviated to monocot for short. Flowering plants are divided into two types. These are monocots and dicots. Each type shares some characteristics in common with one another.
The seeds of monocot develop a single embryonic leaf, known as cotyledon. This is a monophyletic group that makes up the majority of our agricultural biomass and includes a wide variety of essential crops such as rice, wheat, corn, sugar cane, bamboo, onion, and garlic. However, these are just few of the crops that belong to this category.
When attempting to categorize flowers as either monocots or dicots, it is important to keep in mind that there are always going to be exceptions to the norm. It's possible that some monocots have a characteristic that's more common in dicots, or vice versa. Even a small number of flowering plants, about two percent of all flowering plants, do not belong to either the monocot or the dicot categories.
The number of flower petals and other components can reveal whether a plant is a monocot or a dicot when it flowers. The number of petals and organs on monocot flowers is often in multiples of 3. The stem tissue of monocot plants typically contains vascular bundles dispersed throughout the tissue. Additionally, they are placed in a manner that faces the periphery of the stem. Vascular bundles can be thought of as the nutrient transporters that bring food and water to the stem of the plant.
When you dig up a monocot seed plant and examine its roots, you will notice that the roots on that plant are adventitious. This indicates that the roots originate from portions of the plant other than just the roots, such as the stem.
Because of their reduced size, threadlike appearance, and thinness, these roots are referred to as fibrous roots. Because adventitious roots, also known as fibrous roots, do not penetrate the soil very deeply, they are one of the species best suited to halt the process of soil erosion.
What is Dicot?
Flowering plants are classified as dicots if their seeds have two cotyledons rather than just one.
The endosperm of dicot seeds is located within the cotyledon, and it is this endosperm that is responsible for transporting nutrients to the seedlings through the cotyledon.
The dicot seed plant has leaves that are typically rounded in shape and contain veins that are reticulated, which is another way of saying that they branch out. On the leaves of orange, mango, and pea plants, you can find designs that are very similar to one another. The flower components of dicotyledonous plants typically occur in multiples of four or five.
Dicot stems, like monocot stems, have a recognizable form. Their vascular bundles are organized in the form of rings throughout their bodies. They have a system composed of taproots. This indicates that dicots contain a single dominant root, from which additional, smaller roots sprout laterally. The earth is dug deeper around the roots, which then continue to grow new branches beneath the surface.
The term "dicotyledon," or "dicot" for short, is used to refer to one of the two primary classes that flowering plants, also known as "angiosperms," are classified into. Flowering plants are classified into two distinct types, known as monocots and dicots.
As their name suggests, dicots are classified according to the number of cotyledons, also known as embryonic leaves, that may be detected in the seed embryo. Dicots have two cotyledons, hence the name. In contrast to monocots, dicots are not classified as a monophyletic group. This means that the history of evolution of dicot plants cannot be traced back to a single most recent common ancestor. Instead, a number of different lineages separated before the monocots did.
It is important to keep in mind that there will always be exceptions to the rule when categorizing flowers as monocots or dicots. Early-diverging dicots appear to possess characteristics more common in monocots, such as scattered vascular bundles, trimerous blooms, and monosulcate pollen grains. There are a few flowering plants that do not fall into either of these categories. About 2 percent of flowering plants do not fall into either category.
Main Differences Between Monocot and Dicot in Points
- In monocot plants, there is only one cotyledon present within the seed embryo, whereas in dicot plants, there are two cotyledons present within the seed embryo.
- The leaves of monocots are venated in a parallel fashion, whereas the leaves of dicots are venated in a branched manner.
- Flower parts on monocot seed plants typically occur in multiples of three, but flower parts on dicot seed plants typically occur in multiples of four or five.
- In the stems of monocots, the vascular tissue bundles are dispersed, whereas in the stems of dicots, the vascular tissue bundles are grouped in rings.
- When compared to the roots of dicot plants, the roots of monocot plants are either adventitious or fibrous, while the roots of dicot plants have a taproot system.
- The petals and other flower components produced by monocots are always divisible by three, whereas dicot flowers typically form around four to five individual pieces.
- The stems of monocots are dispersed, but those of dicots are arranged in a ring.
- Technically speaking, monocots are unable to generate wood or bark, whereas dicot plants do.
Conclusion
The two categories of flowering plants known as monocots and dicots together contain the most variety. Researching the many kinds of seeds produced by flowering plants is beneficial in a variety of different ways.
Knowing how the seeds will germinate, what their requirements for growth would be, and how they are connected to various plant species is helpful to us.
The purpose of this classification is to establish a solid and workable foundation on which to conduct research regarding the evolution of plant species. In addition to this, it assists researchers in effectively disseminating knowledge to other people of the same species.
The process of categorizing plants according to their physical characteristics has a direct bearing on the development of our agricultural infrastructure. It helps in the analysis of food crops, it protects against diseases and illnesses, and as a result, it contributes to the improvement of food output.
As a result, each and every one of these components plays an important part in driving the progression of our botanical world toward a brighter future.
References
- https://www.pnas.org/content/82/17/5824.short
- https://science.sciencemag.org/content/284/5411/154.short
