Question

Which are the three cells found in a pollen grain when it is shed at the three celled stage?

Answer 1

Development of male gametophyte

The following events take place during the formation of pollen grains:-

* Pollen mother cells divide by meiosis and produce haploid pollen tetrads or microspore tetrads.

* The tetrads further give rise to four individual functional microspores.

* The nucleus of the microspores divide by mitosis and produce two daughter cells-one smaller generative cell and one larger vegetative cell. Most of the pollen grains in angiosperms is shed off at the 2 celled stage.


Pollen at three celled stage

* In some species, pollen grains are shed off at the 3 celled stage. This happens when the generative nucleus further divides mitotically to form two male gametes.

* Two male gametes and one vegetative cells are the three cells found in a pollen grain when it is shed at the three celled stage.