fecundados

Fecundados is the term used in Spanish as the past participle of fecundar, meaning fertilized. It can function as an adjective or, less commonly, as a noun to describe eggs or ovules that have undergone fertilization. In everyday biological language, a “huevo fecundado” refers to a fertilized egg that has initiated embryonic development.

In animals, fertilization occurs when a sperm penetrates an oocyte, forming a zygote. The zygote then begins a series of divisions and developmental stages that lead to the embryo and, in many species, to later stages such as a larva or fetus. Depending on the species, fertilized eggs may develop inside the female body or outside it, as in many birds, reptiles, and fish. The term emphasizes the transition from a potentially fertile cell to a developing organism.

In plants, fertilization refers to the fusion of pollen with an ovule. The fertilized ovule becomes a seed, containing an embryo and often endosperm. In angiosperms, this process is part of double fertilization, producing both the embryo and the nutritive tissue for seed development. The concept of a fertilized ovule or seed is central to plant reproduction and crop propagation.

In research and industry, the status of eggs as fecundados matters for breeding programs, hatcheries, and assisted reproduction techniques. Techniques such as candling or flotation are used to assess fertilization and viability in eggs, distinguishing fecundados from non-fecundated ones.

See also: fertilization, zygote, embryo, seed, oocyte, endosperm.