Question

For the formation of tetrasporic embryosac, how many megaspore mother cells are required?

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 3
• D. 4

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

1

• One megaspore divides meiotically to form four megaspores.
• Sometimes meiotic division of the megaspore mother cell is not accompanied by cytokinesis and hence all the four haploid nuclei lie in a single cell called coeno-megaspore.
• All the four nuclei of coeno-megaspore participate in the formation of the embryo sac.
• This type of embryo sac is called as tetrasporic like in Peperomia.
• The four haploid nuclei of coeno-megaspore undergo two successive mitotic divisions forming 16 nuclei.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.