Question

What is the function of the two male gametes produced by each pollen grain in angiosperms?

Answer 1

Double fertilisation

The male gametes produced by each pollen grain in angiosperms are involved in double fertilisation.
Following are the two major processes that occur in double fertilisation:
● Formation of zygote
● Triple fusion.


Formation of zygote

One of the two male gametes fertilises the egg cell present in the egg apparatus of the embryo sac resulting in the formation of the zygote.

Triple fusion

The other male gamete fuses with the two polar nuclei or secondary nuclei, resulting in the formation of triploid primary endosperm nucleus. Since three haploid nuclei are involved in this fusion it is called triple fusion.