Question

Explain the structure of male gametophyte of angiosperm with the help of suitable diagram.

Answer 1

Hint: Male gametophyte apparently contains the genetic information for normal plants.

Complete Answer:

Sexual reproduction takes place in different groups of plants. These plants have 2 stages in the life cycle: gametophyte stage and sporophyte stage.
The gametophyte stage reproduces both male and female gametes by mitosis in the different multicellular structure. The male gametophyte of the flowering plants is a very simple system as compared to sporophyte. The male gametophyte plays a vital role in the plant fertility and crop production through the generation of male gametes for double fertilization.
Male gametophyte develops and reaches maturity in an immature anther. The male gametophyte is also known as the pollen grain because the development of pollen takes place in a structure which is known as microsporangium in the plant’s male reproductive organ.
These microsporangium are bilobed and found in anther which is at the end of stamen (Long filament) that supports anther. Each pollen grain has 2 coverings which includes the thicker and the outer layer is called exine covering and the inner layer is called intine. The exine contains sporopollenin, it is a complex waterproofing substance which is supplied by the tapetal cells. Sporopollenin helps pollen to survive under unfavorable conditions and to be carried out by wind, water or biological agents without undergoing damage.

Note: The life cycle of angiosperms follows the alternation of generations. Gametophyte which is a haploid alternated with diploid sporophyte during the sexual reproduction process of Angiosperms flowers contains the plant’s reproductive structure.