Question

Assertion (A): In majority of angiosperms, endosperm is triploid.
Reason (R): Endosperm results from syngamy.

• A. Both A & R are true
• B. Both A & R are false
• C. A is true, R is false
• D. A is false, R is true

Answer 1

The correct option is C A is true, R is false

In angiosperms, out of the two male gametes produced by each pollen grain, one male gamete fuses with the female gamete to form the diploid zygote. This process is called fertilisation or syngamy.

The other male gamete fuses with the two haploid polar nuclei. This second fertilisation is also called vegetative fertilisation. This results in the formation of triploid primary endosperm nucleus (PEN). The fusion of male gamete with polar nuclei is called triple fusion. The cell that consists of PEN is called primary endosperm cell (PEC). The PEC undergoes further division to give rise to the endosperm.
Thus endosperm is triploid and it is formed as a result of triple fusion and not syngamy.