Question

The endosperm of a gymnosperm is
a. Haploid
b. Diploid
c. Triploid
d. Tetraploid

Answer 1

Hint: The endosperm has half the number of chromosomes present in a normal body which is different from that of the angiosperm.

Complete answer:
The endosperm of the gymnosperm is a haploid tissue. In gymnosperm, there are two sperm nuclei of which one degenerates and the endosperm formed is not a real endosperm but a nutritive tissue for the growth and germination of the embryo.

Additional information:
1. The endosperm formed in a gymnosperm is not the result of double fertilization and triple fusion, as it does not occur in a gymnosperm.
2. The process of fruit formation is absent in gymnosperm and they do not have fruits.
3. The endosperm in gymnosperm is formed before fertilization.
4. It is haploid because it is formed from the repeated division of the haploid megaspore.
5. The endosperm develops into the female gametophyte with haploid chromosomes.
6. The haploid s are those which contain one of each type of chromosome.
7. The haploid cells are generally sex cells of the body which includes the egg cells and the sperm.
8. These haploid cells are usually produced by meiosis and are genetically diverse.
So, the correct answer is ‘Haploid’.

Note: The endosperm formation in the case of angiosperm is opposite to that in gymnosperm. In angiosperm, the endosperm is formed after the process of fertilization which includes double fertilization and triple fusion. It is a special nutritive tissue that has a triploid endosperm nucleus. The total number of sets of chromosomes present in a cell is known as the ploidy level. The ploidy level of the cell remains constant throughout the process of cell division.