Question

An angiospermic plant has to produce $88$ viable embryo sacs. How many meiotic divisions will be needed to produce equal number of female gametophytes by this plant?

• A. $88$
• B. $22$
• C. $44$
• D. $132$

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$88$

Ovule contains the female gametophyte or the embryo sac. Each ovule usually contains only one embryo sac

Each embryo sac is formed by meiotic division of the diploid mother cell

The end result of a meiotic division is 4 haploid cells, in most cases, of the 4 haploid cells formed, three degenerate and one develops into the embryo sac

Therefore, to produce 88 viable embryo sacs 88 meiotic divisions are required

So, the correct answer is '88'