Pollen Tube Growth in Gymnosperms — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2023Unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, in gymnosperms, the male and the female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes. The pollen grain is released from the microsporangium. They are carried in air currents and come in contact with the opening of the ovules borne on megasporophylls. The pollen tube carrying the male gametes grows towards archegonia in the ovules and discharge their contents near the mouth of the archegonia. Following fertilisation, zygote develops into an embryo and the ovules into seeds. These seeds are not covered.
NTA tests your understanding of how male gametophytes (pollen grains) deliver sperm to female gametophytes in gymnosperms. The key concept is that the pollen tube actively grows toward the archegonia to discharge male gametes. Students commonly confuse this with angiosperms or mistakenly think pollen directly enters the ovule—it doesn't. The pollen tube is a precise growth mechanism. Remember: in gymnosperms, gametophytes remain enclosed in sporangia/ovules on the sporophyte; the pollen tube is the bridge connecting male and female gametophytes; and this leads to naked seeds (no fruit covering). This mechanism shows the evolutionary advantage of gymnosperms over bryophytes and pteridophytes.
Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R): Assertion (A): In gymnosperms, the pollen grains are released from the microsporangium and carried by air currents. Reason (R): Air currents carry the pollen grains to the mouth of the archegonia where the male gametes are discharged and pollen tube is not formed.
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