Tapetum Structure and Bi-nucleate Cells — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2025Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): Cells of the tapetum possess dense cytoplasm and generally have more than one nucleus. Reason (R): Presence of more than one nucleus in the tapetum increases the efficiency of nourishing the developing microspore mother cells. Choose the correct answer:
Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): Cells of the tapetum possess dense cytoplasm and generally have more than one nucleus. Reason (R): Presence of more than one nucleus in the tapetum increases the efficiency of nourishing the developing microspore mother cells. Choose the correct answer:
Which one of the following statements is not true? (NEET 2016)
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
According to NCERT, tapetum cells are multinucleate with dense cytoplasm (Assertion true). The multinucleate condition increases metabolic activity and efficiency in nourishing developing microspore mother cells and pollen grains (Reason true and correctly explains assertion). Both statements are factually correct and causally related.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
Structure of microsporangium: In a transverse section, a typical microsporangium appears near circular in outline. It is generally surrounded by four wall layers – the epidermis, endothecium, middle layers and the tapetum. The outer three wall layers perform the function of protection and help in dehiscence of anther to release the pollen. The innermost wall layer is the tapetum. It nourishes the developing pollen grains. Cells of the tapetum possess dense cytoplasm and generally have more than one nucleus. Can you think of how tapetal cells could become bi-nucleate?
NTA tests students on why tapetal cells are bi-nucleate (or multinucleate). These cells develop extra nuclei through mitosis WITHOUT complete cytokinesis—the nucleus divides but the cell doesn't separate, creating one cell with two nuclei. This is crucial because tapetal cells need high metabolic activity to nourish developing pollen grains, and multiple nuclei support this demand. Students mistake this for typical mitosis or think nuclei fuse together. Remember: bi-nucleate cells form when nuclear division occurs without cell division, increasing nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio for enhanced protein synthesis and nutrient provision to pollen.
What does NCERT say about Structure microsporangium transverse section?
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Which chapter is this from?
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 176 of the 180 ReNEET 2026 (June 21) questions were already in the MedicNEET question bank before the exam.
176/180MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.