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. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer: (NEET 2025)

Solution & Explanation

Answer: C. Both statements are true. The innermost wall layer of the microsporangium, the tapetum, nourishes the developing pollen grains, and its cells have dense cytoplasm and generally more than one nucleus (A is true). The multinucleate condition raises the cell's synthetic and nutritive capacity, enabling more efficient nourishment of the developing microspore mother cells — so the extra nuclei exist precisely to serve the tapetum's nourishing role (R is true and is the correct explanation of A). NCERT: Ch 1, p.5, lines 38-41 — "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."