Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The nucellus provides nourishment to the developing embryo sac. Reason (R): Nucellus is a central mass of cells enclosed within the integuments that contains abundant reserve food materials. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true. The nucellus is the central part of the ovule where the megaspore mother cell differentiates and undergoes meiosis to form the embryo sac (female gametophyte). The developing embryo sac derives its nourishment from the surrounding nucellar cells. Reason (R) is true and correctly explains Assertion (A). According to NCERT, the nucellus is a mass of cells enclosed within the integuments and its cells have abundant reserve food materials. This stored food is precisely what allows the nucellus to