Question

Which of the following is a non-endospermic seed?
A) Sunflower
B) Coconut
C) Groundnut
D) Wheat

Answer 1

Hint: Endosperm surrounds the embryo which provides nutrition to the developing embryo, it either surrounds the embryo or present on one side of it. The seeds are said to be endospermic or non- endospermic depending on presence or absence of endosperm.

Complete answer:
 The endosperm is a food storing tissue produced inside the seeds of most of the flowering plants, it is a product of double fertilization due to which it is triploid in most species. It surrounds the embryo wholly or partially. Its main function is to provide nutrition to the developing embryo. Food is stored mainly in the form of starch, but it can also be present as oils and protein. This character makes the endosperm a rich source of nutrition for animal diet. On the basis of persistence of endosperm after embryo maturation, seeds can be classified as endospermic seeds or non- endospermic seeds. Groundnut does not have any persistent endosperm and therefore it has non-endospermic seeds. The endosperm is consumed by the developing embryo and is fully consumed by the time it fully matures.

Additional information: Endosperm is developed by either of three ways-
>Nuclear endosperm formation – repeated free-nuclear divisions occur, cell wall formation is observed after free-nuclear divisions. The endosperm produced is present as liquid endosperm. Example- Coconut water.
>Cellular endosperm formation – cell-wall is formed simultaneously with nuclear divisions. Acorus is an example of cellular endosperm development.
>Helobial endosperm formation – two nuclei are formed which are divided by a cell wall after which one half develops into endosperm. Most monocots have such type of endosperm development.

Thus, the correct option is- C. ground nut.

Note:Sunflower, coconut and wheat are endospermic plants while groundnut has non-endospermic seeds. The endosperm is consumed by the embryo itself in groundnut.