Question

What is the fate of the male gametes discharged in the synergid?
A) One fuses with the egg other(s) degenerate(s) in the synergid
B) All fuse with the egg
C) One fuses with the egg, other(s) fuse(s) with synergid nucleus
D) One fuses with the egg, other fuses with central cell nuclei

Answer 1

Hint: Strasburger discovered the process of triple fusion. Triple fusion involves both syngamy and double fertilization. It was discovered by Nawaschin and confirmed by Guignard in Fritillaria and Lilium. It is a unique feature of angiosperms.

Complete answer:
>The triple fusion is characterized by the release of nuclei of both the male gametes in the embryo sac. >The egg nucleus fuses with one of these nuclei fuses which results in the formation of a diploid zygote. >This process is called syngamy.
>The nucleus of other male gametes fuses with the two polar nuclei present in the central cell and this results in the formation of triploid primary endosperm nucleus.
>Endosperm is an important storage tissue that supplies nutrition to the developing embryo.The following types of endosperms are found in the plants:-
->Nuclear endosperm- It is the type of endosperm in which the primary endosperm nucleus divides and redivides but it is not followed by cytokinesis.
->Cellular endosperm- In this, the wall formation occurs after every division of primary endosperm nucleus so that it is of cellular form from the beginning.
->Helobial endosperm- In this, the first division of primary endosperm nucleus is followed by cytokinesis to produce two unequal sizes of cells.
So the correct answer is that – the fate of the male gametes discharged in the synergid is that one fuses with the egg, other fuses with central cell nuclei.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note:The endospore formation, embryo formation, seed formation, and fruit formation are the post-fertilization changes in the plants. The endosperm development precedes the embryo development to ensure the proper supply of nutrition to the developing embryo.