Question

Distinguish between the two cells enclosed in a mature male gametophyte of an angiosperm.

Answer 1

An angiosperm’s mature male gametophyte, or pollen grain, is made up of two cells, a vegetative cell and a generative cell. The differences between these two are as follows.

Feature	Generative cell	Vegetative cell
Functions:	It divides to produce two sperm cells, or male gametes, for fertilization.	It helps in the development of pollen tubes for the transportation of gametes.
Size:	It is smaller and spindle-shaped.	It is larger and irregular in shape.
Cytoplasm:	It has dense cytoplasm with a nucleus.	It has Abundant cytoplasm with a large nucleus.
Fate:	Undergoes mitotic division to form two sperm cells.	Does not divide; it degenerates after pollen tube formation.