Question

Assertion (A): Developed male gametophytes of angiosperms have 3 cells
Reason (R): In all angiosperms, the male gametophyte has only two male gametes

• A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
• B. A is true but R is false
• C. Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A
• D. Both A and R are false

Answer 1

The correct option is C Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A

A developed male gametophyte i.e. pollen grain has two cells - the vegetative cell with abundant food reserve and the generative cell that floats in the cytoplasm of the vegetative cell.

In 60% of angiosperms, pollen grains shed from the anther after this stage (2-celled stage).

In the remaining species, the generative cell divides (mitosis) to form two male gametes after which the pollen grain sheds (3-celled stage).

Hence, assertion and reason are true but, reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.