Question

After penetrating stigmatic and stylar tissue, the pollen tube usually grows down towards the egg cell because

• A. The egg cell attracts pollen tube.
• B. It grows under the influence of ovum.
• C. It has no other passage to follow.
• D. The filiform apparatus of synergids attract the pollen tubes.

Answer 1

The correct option is D The filiform apparatus of synergids attract the pollen tubes.

Filiform apparatus of the synergids present in the embryo sac helps in attracting and guiding the male gamaete towards the egg cell. Right after penetrating style and stigma tissue it reaches the embryo sac where it is guided by the filiform apparatus of the synergid cells. After the entry and fusion of these male and female gametes these synergids and filiform apparatus will degenerate and thus are called as vestigial in nature.