Question

If the leaf cell of an angiosperm has 16 chromosomes, what is the chromosome count in the microspore of the same plant?
A. 16
B. 32
C. 8
D. 4

Answer 1

Hint: The number of chromosomes present in the nuclei of body cells (somatic cells) of a plant or animal is normally the number of chromosomes found in the nuclei of leaf cells. The sporophyte is the diploid stage of the life cycle in plants. The diploid number of chromosomes in a typical human is 46 (2n = 46).

Complete solution:
If a flowering plant's diploid chromosome number is 24, each of the plant's somatic cells has 24 chromosomes (12 maternal and 12 paternal). Each of the eight nuclei in the embryo sac must contain 12 chromosomes, and each of the three haploid nuclei in the germinated pollen grain must contain 12 chromosomes.
The leaf is diploid, with 16 chromosomes. Microspores have half the number of chromosomes as haploids.
As a result, the microspore chromosome is 16/2=8.

Hence the correct answer is option C. 8

Note:
Four patches of tissue separate from the main mass of cells when the anther of a flowering plant grows. These tissue patches contain a large number of diploid microsporocyte cells, each of which goes through meiosis and produces a quartet of microspores. By the time the microspores are formed, four chambers (pollen sacs) lined with nutritive tapetal cells are evident. The haploid microspores undergo various alterations after meiosis.