Question

Part of endosperm remains liquid in coconut because

• A. Karyokinesis is not followed by cytokinesis.
• B. Karyokinesis is followed by cytokinesis.
• C. Formation of liquid endosperm is not dependent upon karyokinesis and cytokinesis.
• D. None of the above.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Karyokinesis is not followed by cytokinesis.

Coconut has free nuclear or liquid type of endosperm. During the development of a nuclear type of endosperm, the primary endosperm mother cell divides by free nuclear divisions i.e. karyokinesis, and these divisions are not followed by cell wall formation i.e. cytokinesis. Thus, the free nuclei remain in the cytoplasm of the embryo sac.

Hence, the endosperm remains liquid in coconut because karyokinesis is not followed by cytokinesis.

So, the correct answer is A.