Question

Explain double fertilization and its significance.

Answer 1

In angiosperms, during fertilization, one male gamete fuses with the egg cell and forms diploid zygote in a process called syngamy. The other male gamete fuses with the two polar nuclei to form a triploid nucleus called the primary endosperm nucleus. This process is called triple fusion. Since fertilization takes place twice here, so this process is called double fertilization.

Significance - Due to double fertilization, the triploid nucleus develops into endosperm which serves as nutrition for embryo.