Double Fertilization in Angiosperms

What is double fertilization in angiosperms?

When the two sperms discharged by the pollen tube reach their targets within the ovule and unify or amalgamate with them, what process is this known as?

Answer:

When the two sperms discharged by the pollen tube reach their targets within the ovule and unify or amalgamate with them, it is known as double fertilization.

Double fertilization is a unique process that occurs in angiosperms, or flowering plants. It involves the fusion of two sperm cells with different targets within the ovule.

When a pollen grain reaches the stigma of a flower, a pollen tube extends from the grain, grows down the style, and enters through an opening in the integuments of the ovule. The two sperm cells are then discharged into the embryo sac.

One sperm fertilizes the egg cell, leading to the formation of a diploid zygote. The other sperm cell fuses with the two polar nuclei, resulting in the formation of a triploid cell known as the endosperm.

Double fertilization ensures the successful development of the embryo and endosperm in flowering plants, providing important nutrients for the growing seed. This process is essential for seed development and plays a crucial role in the life cycle of angiosperms.