Question

What is meant by monosporic development of the female gametophyte?

Answer 1

Out of the megaspore tetrad formed as a result of megasporogenesis, three are destroyed. And only one megaspore becomes active, which develops into a female gametophyte. The megaspore’s nucleus forms eight nuclei in three mitotic divisions. Four nuclei are arranged at each pole. At the micropylar pole of the embryo sac, three of the four nuclei form the egg apparatus, while at the chalazal end, three of the four nuclei form the antipodal cells. One nucleus from each pole combines in the central cell to form the polar nucleus. Since the female gametophyte develops from a single megaspore, this is called monosporic development.