Question

name the product of fertilization that forms the kernel of coconut .how does the kernel differ from coconut water?

Answer 1

The endosperm is formed when one of the male gamete fuses with the two polar nuclei. The coconut water is the part of the endosperm of the coconut and develops as post-fertilisation structure from the primary endosperm nucleus. In young coconut, the primary endosperm nucleus divides and form large number of free nuclei without any cell membrane giving it a liquid shape. At a later stage i.e. when the coconut matures, in addition to free nuclei, several cells enclosing variable number of nuclei appear. These cells divide rapidly and form a compact mass of cells which start settling at the periphery of the cavity and layers of cellular endosperm start appearing. This forms the coconut meat. In mature coconut the liquid endosperm becomes milky enclosed by the cellular part called kernel and it does not contain free nuclei or cells.