Question

How many meiotic and mitotic divisions need to occur for the development of a mature female gametophyte from the megaspore mother cell in an angiosperm plant?

Options

• 2 meiosis and 3 mitosis

• 1 meiosis and 2 mitosis

• 1 meiosis and 3 mitosis

• No meiosis and 2 mitosis

Answer 1

1 meiosis and 3 mitosis

Explanation:

The megaspore mother cell in angiosperms divides once during meiosis to create four haploid megaspores, only one of which survives. After undergoing three rounds of mitosis, this functional megaspore produces eight nuclei that organise into the embryo sac (the mature female gametophyte). Thus, 1 meiosis + 3 mitoses make up the total.