Ovule Anatomy — Integuments, Nucellus, Embryo Sac (Female Gametophyte)
✅ Asked in NEET 2024Which of the following represents the female gametophyte?
Which of the following represents the female gametophyte?
Which part of the ovule stores reserve food material?
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: B — Embryo sac
According to NCERT, the embryo sac represents the female gametophyte in angiosperms. It develops from the functional megaspore through mitotic divisions and contains the egg cell, synergids, antipodals, and central cell. The ovule is sporophytic, nucellus is sporophytic tissue, and endosperm forms after fertilization.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
Enclosed within the integuments is a mass of cells called the nucellus. Cells of the nucellus have abundant reserve food materials. Located in the nucellus is the embryo sac or female gametophyte. An ovule generally has a single embryo sac formed from a megaspore.
An OVULE is the female reproductive unit of an angiosperm. Working from outside in: the OVULE is attached to the PLACENTA by a stalk called the FUNICLE. The body of the ovule is enclosed by one or two INTEGUMENTS that leave a small opening at one end called the MICROPYLE. Enclosed within the integuments is a MASS OF CELLS called the NUCELLUS — cells of the nucellus have ABUNDANT RESERVE FOOD MATERIAL. Located WITHIN the nucellus is the EMBRYO SAC (also called the FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE). An ovule generally has a SINGLE EMBRYO SAC, formed from a single functional MEGASPORE. So: ovule (sporophytic) contains nucellus (food-storing tissue), which contains embryo sac (female gametophyte, where egg is housed).
NEET 2024 tested two ovule questions: (1) 'Which represents the female gametophyte?' → EMBRYO SAC (NOT ovule, NOT nucellus, NOT endosperm). (2) 'Which part of the ovule stores reserve food material?' → NUCELLUS (NOT integument, NOT placenta, NOT funicle). The ovule is SPOROPHYTIC; the embryo sac inside it is GAMETOPHYTIC. Nucellus is the food-storing nutritive tissue. Endosperm is a POST-fertilisation tissue (3n), not an ovule part. The funicle is just the stalk connecting ovule to placenta.
The ovule represents the female gametophyte in angiosperms, while the nucellus is a protective sporophytic layer.
The EMBRYO SAC represents the female gametophyte (NEET 2024). The NUCELLUS stores RESERVE FOOD (NEET 2024). The ovule is sporophytic — it CONTAINS the embryo sac.
Ovule contains NUCELLUS contains EMBRYO SAC. Ovule = sporophytic. Embryo sac = female gametophyte. Nucellus = food storage.
- Funicle = stalk connecting ovule to placenta of ovary.
- Integuments = outer protective layers around the ovule body; leave a small opening (MICROPYLE) at one end.
- Nucellus = mass of cells inside integuments; stores ABUNDANT RESERVE FOOD MATERIAL (NEET 2024).
- Embryo sac (female gametophyte) is located WITHIN the nucellus; formed from a single functional megaspore.
Consider the following statements about the ovule: S1: The embryo sac represents the female gametophyte in angiosperms. S2: The nucellus stores abundant reserve food material in the ovule. S3: The funicle is the stalk that connects the ovule to the placenta. S4: The ovule itself represents the female gametophyte; the embryo sac is a sporophytic structure. S5: An ovule generally has a single embryo sac formed from a single functional megaspore.
View bonus solution & explanation
Correct answer: B — S1, S2, S3 and S5
S1 CORRECT: NEET 2024 — embryo sac = female gametophyte. S2 CORRECT: NEET 2024 — nucellus stores reserve food. S3 CORRECT: Funicle = stalk to placenta (NCERT). S4 WRONG: REVERSED — the OVULE is SPOROPHYTIC; the EMBRYO SAC inside it is the GAMETOPHYTE. This swap is the classic NEET trap. S5 CORRECT: Single embryo sac per ovule, from one functional megaspore (monosporic development).
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