Question

Describe double fertilization.

Answer 1

Double fertilisation is a process unique to angiosperms. After the release of two male gametes by the pollen tube in the ovule, one of the male gametes fuses with the egg cell and forms a diploid zygote. This is known as syngamy. The second male gamete fuses with the secondary nucleus and forms triploid primary endosperm nucleus which develops into endosperm. This is known as triple fusion. This simultaneous occurrence of two fusions i.e. syngamy and triple fusion, is known as double fertilisation.