NEETBotanySexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
What happens to the central cell after triple fusion?
Options
- AIt becomes the primary endosperm cell (PEC).
- BIt develops into the embryo.
- CIt transforms into a zygote.
- DIt forms a diploid cell.
Correct answer
A. It becomes the primary endosperm cell (PEC).
Step-by-step solution
After entering one of the synergids, the pollen tube releases the two male gametes into the cytoplasm of the synergid. One of the male gametes moves towards the egg cell and fuses with its nucleus thus completing the syngamy. This results in the formation of a diploid cell, the zygote. The other male gamete moves towards the two polar nuclei located in the central cell and fuses with them to produce a triploid primary endosperm nucleus (PEN As this involves the fusion of three haploid nuclei it is termed triple fus