Does one pollen grain produce one single seed, and if so..?
By Zed
United Kingdom 
I am very confused about certain aspects of pollination.
Does 1 pollen grain equal 1 seed?
Some people tell me a fertilised ovule will multiply into many seeds, others say one pollen grain + 1 egg = 1 seed (and thus 1 seedling).
If each pollen grain contains 2 sperm cells, as some sources state, does this mean each pollen grain splits into 2 seeds?
If only 1 grain of pollen enters the stigma, how come when an ovary is split many seeds might be produced? How come a pepper or an apple if split open will reveal large numbers of seeds? Can these all be replanted to grow?
Does an ovary only bear several seeds if the flowerhead contains more than one stigma?
Most of the flower heads I see have a single stigma. I wonder if this means only one seed appears in the ovary.
For instance, Viscum album produces usually a single seed within its fruit. Is this so with all monocarpous plants?
25 Oct, 2008
Answers
thanks for that. your thoughts are appreciated; similar to my own current understanding of the situation. I am grateful for any adive on this question.
this is a great site, hopefully i'll work out how to use it more one day.
25 Oct, 2008
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I think that 1 pollen grain equals 1 seed. The pollen grain has to send a connection into the ovum where the two cells combine to form one seed. Normally I would expect several grains would be deposited at the same time on the stigma.
I hope someone else with more knowledge can confirm what I have written.
25 Oct, 2008