Question

If the cells in the leaves of a maize plant contain 10 chromosomes each, write the number of chromosomes in its endosperm and zygote. Name and explain the process by which an endosperm and a zygote are formed in maize.

Hint:

Double fertilisation is a characteristic feature of angiosperms, resulting in the formation of both zygote and endosperm.

Answer 1

Zygote contains 10 chromosomes (diploid). Endosperm contains 15 chromosomes (triploid). Process: Zygote formation: Syngamy: a male gamete fuses with the egg cell to create the zygote. Endosperm formation: Triple fusion: a second male gamete fuses with two polar nuclei in the central cell, yielding the triploid endosperm.