Embryo

The embryo is the young developing plant formed from the zygote after fertilisation. It develops at the micropylar end of the embryo sac.

• Embryogenesis is the process of development of the zygote into an embryo, which begins after fertilisation and some endosperm formation.
• The embryo develops at the micropylar end of the embryo sac.
• The zygote divides to form a two-celled proembryo: a terminal (embryonal) cell and a basal (suspensor) cell.
• The suspensor pushes the developing embryo into the endosperm and helps in nutrient supply, while the embryonal cell forms the main embryo.
• The embryo passes through stages like the octant and heart-shaped stage, forming structures such as cotyledons, plumule, radicle, and hypocotyl.
• In monocots, a single cotyledon (scutellum) is present with protective sheaths, the coleoptile (plumule) and coleorhiza (radicle), while in dicots, two cotyledons are formed.