Name: Apomixis and Polyembryony
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 7 min 23 s
Description: Apomixis and polyembryony are unusual forms of reproduction that allow seed formation, for continuity of life, without genetic shuffling. Do you want to know...

Question

Describe the process of fertilization in angiosperms.

Accepted Answer

Angiosperms are flowering plants that undergo a special type of fertilisation during embryo formation. This process is followed by pollination when the pollen grains reach the stigma of the female flower.

The pollen tube germinates and grows through the style and finally reaches the embryo sac that contains the egg cell. The pollen tube contains two male nuclei. These nuclei are released inside the embryo sac of the ovule. This germination of the pollen tube is guided by the chemicals released from the synergid cells that lie adjacent to the egg cell.

Two types of fertilisation occurs because one male nuclei fuses with the egg cell to forma diploid zygote. The other male nuclei fuse with the polar nuclei of the central cell (2 nucleated cell). This fusion results in the formation of a triploid endosperm cell. Since there occurs the fusion between three nuclei, this fusion is called triple fusion. Also, two different male nuclei fertilise in different way thus this type of fertilisation in angiosperms is called double fertilisation.

Describe the process of fertilization in angiosperms.

Important Questions on Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

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