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?
- 1 Meiosis and 3 Mitosis
- No Meiosis and 2 Mitosis
- 2 Meiosis and 3 Mitosis
- 1 Meiosis and 2 Mitosis
Answer
(1) 1 Meiosis and 3 Mitosis
Solution
The megaspore mother cell undergoes one meiosis to form four megaspores; three degenerate.
The functional megaspore nucleus divides mitotically three times (1 2 4 8 nuclei) to form the 8-nucleate, 7-celled embryo sac.
Hence, 1 meiosis and 3 mitoses.
Answer: (1)