Question

What is meant by monosporic development of female gametophyte?

Answer 1

Out of the megaspore tetrad formed as a result of megasporogenesis, three get destroyed. And only one megaspore becomes active, which develops into a female gametophyte. The nucleus of the megaspore forms eight nuclei in three mitotic divisions. Four nuclei are arranged at each pole. Out of the four nuclei located at the micropylar pole of the embryo sac, three nuclear cells form the egg apparatus, whereas out of the four nuclei at the chalazal end, three nuclei form antipodal cells. One nucleus each from both poles combines in the central cell to form the polar nucleus. Since the female gametophyte develops from only one megaspore, it is called monosporic development.