How does meiosis contribute to the life cycle of flowering plants?

Meiosis plays a crucial role in the life cycle of flowering plants by generating haploid gametes, which are necessary for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, a diploid parent cell undergoes two rounds of division to produce four genetically diverse haploid cells. These haploid cells develop into gametes, specifically pollen grains (male gametes) and ovules (female gametes). When fertilization occurs, a haploid sperm cell from the pollen grain fuses with a haploid egg cell in the ovule, resulting in the formation of a diploid zygote. This zygote then develops into a new diploid plant, thus continuing the plant's life cycle.

This process is vital for maintaining genetic diversity within plant populations, allowing for evolution and adaptation to changing environments. The generation of haploid gametes through meiosis ensures that when two gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has a full diploid set of chromosomes, combining genetic material from both parent plants. This sexual reproduction is essential for many flowering plants, leading to the formation of seeds and new individuals, thereby promoting species continuity and resilience.