NEETBotanyPlant Kingdom
Where does the pollen tube discharge its contents in gymnosperms?
Options
- ANear the mouth of the archegonia
- BInside the antheridium
- CAt the base of the sporangium
- DOn the surface of the megasporophyll
Correct answer
A. Near the mouth of the archegonia
Step-by-step solution
Unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, in gymnosperms the male and the female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes. The pollen grain is released from the microsporangium. They are carried in air currents and come in contact with the opening of the ovules borne on megasporophylls. The pollen tube carrying the male gametes grows towards archegonia in the ovules and discharges their contents near the mouth of the archegonia. Following