Question

Explain the transverse section of young anther with a labelled diagram.

Answer 1

Male reproductive part of a plant consists of an anther and the filament. Anther is bilobed containing 4 microsporangia in angiosperms so it is known as dithecous anther. Each microsporangium contains spores that produce male gametes. It has following layers:

• The outermost layer is known as the epidermis.
• Inner to the epidermis is the layer of endothecium.
• Inner to endothecium, there are 2-3 cell middle layers that usually disintegrate during anther maturation.
• The innermost layer is known as tapetum.
• Inner to the tapetum are the microspore mother cells which give rise to pollen grains through meiotic division.