Skip to main content
B.Sc.-II,Sem-III
Unit–VI
EmbryologyofAngiosperm
DevelopmentofFemaleGametophyte
DR. SWATI PUNDKAR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMNET OF BOTANY
SHRI SHIVAJI SCIENCE COLLEGE, AMRAVATI
Pistil - ovule bearing or seed bearing female reproductive organ
of a flower is called the pistil or gynoecium. The gynoecium
represents the female reproductive part of the flower. The
gynoecium may consist of a single carpel (monocarpellary, e.g.
Pea) or may have more than one carpel (multicarpellary -
number of carpels in a gynoecium are 2, 3, 4, 5, they are said to
be bi, tri, tetra and penta carpellary, respectively).When there
are more than one carpel, the pistils may be fused together
(syncarpous)or may be free (apocarpous)
Carpel -The pistils of a flower are considered to be composed
of carpels. A carpel is a theoretical construct interpreted as
modified leaves bearing structures called ovules, inside which
the egg cells ultimately form. A pistil may consist of one carpel,
with its ovary, style and stigma, or several carpels may be
joined together with a single ovary, the whole unit called a
pistil. The gynoecium may consist of one or more uni-carpellate
(with one carpel) pistils, or of one multicarpellate pistil.
GYNOECIUM
MEGASPOROGIUM AND MEGASPOROGENESIS
Megasporogenesis refers to the development of megaspores from the megasporocyte, the cell that
undergoes meiosis. Meiosis of the megasporocyte nucleus results in the formation of four haploid megaspore
nuclei. In most taxa, meiosis is followed by cytokinesis, resulting in four megaspore cells.
STRUCTURE OF MATURE OVULE
The ovule is part of the makeup of the female reproductive organ in
seed plants.
It’s the place where female reproductive cells are made and contained,
and it is
what eventually develops into a seed after fertilization, only for the
seed to then ripen and produce a complete adult plant.
Components of Ovules
Integuments
Micropyle-
Nucellus
Hypostase and epistase
Obturator
Structure of ovule (Megasporangium) : Ovule is
considered to be an integumented megasporangium. The
ovule consists of the stalk and the body. The
stalk is called funicle. One end of the funicle is
attached to placenta and the other end to the body of the
ovule. The point of attachment of funicle with the body
is called hilum. Sometimes funicle gets fused with the
body of the ovule one side and forms a ridge known as
raphe. The body of the ovule shows two ends: the basal
end, often called the chalazal end and the upper end is
called micropylar end. The main body of the ovule is
covered with one or two envelopes called integuments.
These leave an opening at the top of the ovule called
micropyle. The integuments enclose a large
parenchymatous tissue known as nucellus. In the
centre of the nucellus is situated a female gametophyte
known as embryo sac.
(i) Unitegmic : Ovule with a single integument, e.g., sympetalous
or gamopetalous dicotyledons.
(ii)Bitegmic : Ovule with two integuments as in polypetalous
(Archichlamydeae) dicotyledons and monocotyledons.
(iii)Aril : This is a collar-like outgrowth from the base of the ovule and forms
third integument. Aril is found in litchi, nutmeg, etc.
(iv)Caruncle : It is formed as an outgrowth of the outer integument in the
micropylar region. Caruncle is common in the ovules of Euphorbiaceae.
e.g., Castor (Ricinus).
(v)Ategmic : In some parasites like Loranthus, Viscum, Santalum etc., there is
no integument. Such an ovule is called ategmic.
INTEGUMENTS The integument is the tough outer protective layer of the ovule.
TYPES OF INTEGUMENTS
Micropyle
The integuments do not enclose the nucellus completely but retain an opening at the apex
referred to as the micropyle. The micropyle opening allows the pollen (a male gametophyte) to
enter the ovule for fertilization. In angiosperms, only a pollen tube enters the micropyle. During
germination, the seedling's radicle emerges through the micropyle. When both the integuments
are involved the passage formed by outer integument is called exostome and by the inner
integument is called as endostome.
Nucellus
is part of the inner structure of the ovule, forming a layer of diploid (sporophytic) cells
immediately inside the integuments. It is structurally and functionally equivalent to the
megasporangium. In immature ovules, the nucellus contains a megasporocyte (megaspore
mother cell), which undergoes sporogenesis via meiosis. When the nucellus is massive and
sporogenous cell is deeply embedded in it then such ovule is called as Crassinucellate. Ex.-
Polypetalae and Monocotyledons In Gamopetalae tha nucellus is single layered such ovule is
called as tenuinucellate. The nucellus is used as nutrition by the embryo sac or endosperm and
is consumed almost completely by the time the endosperm matures.
Hypostase and epistase
Hypostase refers to group of cells present below theembryo sac and above the
vascular supply to the funiculus. The modified cells ofthe nucellus present at the
top of the embryo sac are called as epistase.
Obturator
Some uni or multicellualr hairs are present in the basal part of theovule
collectively form the obturator. It probably guides the pollen tube
towardsmicropyle.
Chalaza
Located opposite from the micropyle is the chalaza where the nucellus is joined
to the integuments. Nutrients from the plant travel through the phloem of the
vascular system to the funiculus and outer integument and from there
apoplastically and symplastically through the chalaza to the nucellus inside the
ovule. In chalazogamous plants, the pollen tubes enter the ovule through the
chalaza instead of the micropyle opening.
TYPES OF OVULES
(1) Depending upon the shape and orientation, the ovules of angiosperms are classified into following types :
(i) Orthotropous or Atropus : The micropyle, chalaza and funicle are in straight line. This is
most primitive type of ovules. e.g., Betel, Piper, Polygonum.
(ii)Anatropous : The body of the ovule is completely inverted (turn at 180o angle ) so that
micropyle and hilum come to lie very close to each other. e.g., 82% of angiosperm families.
(iii)Hemianatropous : Ovule turns at 90o angle upon the funicle or body of ovule is at right
angle to the funicle e.g., Ranunculus.
(iv)Campylotropous : Ovule is circled more or less at right angle to funicle. Micropylar end is
bent down slightly. e.g., in members of Leguminosae and Cruciferae.
(v) Amphitropous : Curvature of ovule is more and embryo sac becomes curved like horse shoe
e.g. Lemna, Poppy, Alisma.
(vi)Circinotropous : The ovule is initially orthotropous but becomes anatropous due to
unilateral growth of funicle. The growth continues till the ovule once again becomes
orthotropous. As a result funicle completely surrounds the body of the ovule e.g., Opuntia
(prickly pear).
Formation of megaspore :
The ovule or the megasporangium develops as a small protuberance of the
placental tissue. In the very young ovule a single hypodermal cell is
differentiated as archesporium cell. The archesporial cell may directly
function as megaspore mother cell (tenuinucellate ovule) or may divide
periclinally to form an outer parietal cell and an inner sporogenous cell
(crassinucellate ovule). The sporogenous cell directly behaves as megaspore
mother cell (or megasporocyte). The diploid megaspore mother cell enlarges
in size and divides by meiosis to form a linear tetrad of four haploid
megaspores. Occasionally T- shaped or inverted T-shaped tetrads are also
formed. Megaspore is the first cell of female gametophyte.
The linear tetrad, three megaspores towards the micropyle degenerate. The
lowermost, i.e., the chalazal megaspore enlarges and remains functional. It later
produces an embryo sac.
Megasporogenesis:
The process of formation of megaspores from the megaspore mother cell is called
megasporogenesis. Ovules generally differentiate a single megaspore mother cell
(MMC) in the micropylar region of the nucellus. It is a large cell containing dense
cytoplasm and a prominent nucleus. The MMC undergoes meiotic division.
Meiosis results in the production of four megaspores.
Female gametophyte:
The female gametophyte is also called as embryo sac. It is seven celled and
eightnucleate structure. There is large central cell with 2 polar nuclei which later
on fuse to form secondary nucleus. At the micropylar end there is egg apparatus
consist of egg and two synergids. At the chalazal end three antipodal cells are
present. The cells of egg apparatus and antipodal cells are uninucleate and haploid
where as central cell is binucleate and diploid.
Development of Embryo sac :The functional megaspore elongates and enlarges
in size. The megaspore nucleus undergoes mitotic division to form 2 nuclei
which are pushed towards opposite poles. These 2 nuclei again undergo division
twice to form four nuclei at each pole. At this stage all the 8 nuclei are present in
common cytoplasm without wall formation. The 8 nuclei now undergo
organization. Out of the four nuclei of micropylar end 3 organize to form egg
apparatus and forth one left free in the cytoplasm of central as polar nucleus.
Three nuclei of chalazal end form 3 antipodal cells and forth one form polar
nucleus of central cell. Thus seven celled structure of embryo sac is form.
TYPES OF EMBRYO SAC
a)Monosporic embryo sac
b)Bisporic embryo sac
c)Tetrasporic embryo sac
MONOSPORIC EMBRYO SAC
Monosporic embryo sac develops from a single megaspore and as
such all the nuclei present in this type of embryo sac are genetically
similar.
Types of Monosporic Embryo Sac
• Polygonum type
• 8 nucleated
• Most common type (81% families)
• First time described in Polygonum divaricatum by
Strasburger (1879)
• Develops from the chalazal megaspore.
• The nucelus is divides thrice to form eight nuclei embryo
sac
• Oenothera type:
• 4 nucleated embryo sac (Egg apparatus- 3 cells and
Polar nucleus- single cell)
• Develops from micropylar megaspore
• Does not have antipodals
Example – Onagraceae family
BISPORIC EMBRYO SAC
•Develops from one of the two dyads formed as a result of the first meiotic
division (Meiosis I) of Megaspore Mother Cell.
•Both the nuclei of the functional dyad take part in the formation of embryo
sac.
•Each nucleus undergoes two mitotic divisions and the mature embryo sac
is 8 nucleated.
•The eight nuclei are organised into antipodals, egg apparatus and polar
nuclei as in Polygonum type of embryo sac.
•The 4 nuclei derived from one megaspore nucleus are genetically
different from the other four derived from the second megaspore nucleus.
On the basis of the position of functional dyad bisporic
embryo sacs are of two types
ALLIUM TYPE: Develops from the chalazal dyad
ENDYMION TYPE: Develops from the micropylar dyad.
TETRASPORIC EMBRYO SAC
• Meiotic division of the megaspore mother cell is not
accompanied by cytokinesis and hence all the four haploid
nuclei lie in a single cell called Coeno-megaspore.
• All four nuclei of coeno-megaspore participate in the formation
of embryo sac
• Genetically more heterogeneous than bisporic type of embryo
sac.
• The tetrasporic embryo sacs are further divided on the basis
of following criteria-
• The position of haploid nuclei in the coeno-megaspore
• The number of times these nuclei divide
TYPE OF TETRASPORIC EMBRYO
SAC
No nuclear fusion occurs
• Adoxa Type
• Plumbago Type
• Penaea Type
• Pepromia Type
• Drusa Type
• After the second meiotic division three
megaspore nuclei fuse to form triploid nucleus
at the chalazal end of the coenomegaspore,
The fourth nucleus at micropylar end remains
haploid
Fritillaria Type Plumbagella Type
ADOXA TYPE
•It has 8 nuclei which are formed by the mitotic division of the four haploid
nuclei of the coeno-megaspore.
•The arrangement of the 8 nuclei in the embryo sac is the same as in
Polygonum type.
•Ex. Adoxa, Tulipa etc.
PLUMBAGO TYPE
•This type of embryo sac is characterized by the absence of synergids and antipodals.
•Out of four haploid coeno-megaspore one migrates to the micropylar end, one at chalazal end and
two at the lateral sides.
•Each nuclei divides again and formed four groups of two nuclei.
•One of the nucleus from each group moves to the center of the cell and form four polar nuclei.
•The remaining nucleus at the micropylar is cut off by a membrane and form the egg. There are no
synergids.
•The other three nuclei usually d
•isappear but occasionally they too may be cut off by membranes and appear as accessory egg
cells.
Example – Plumbaginaceae family
PENAEA TYPE
• The four haploid nuclei of the coeno-megaspore undergo two successive
mitotic divisions forming 16 nuclei.
• These nuclei arrange themselves in four groups of four each, one at the
micropylar end, one at chalazal end and one each on the two lateral sides.
• Now one nucleus from each groups migrates to the centre, and these four
nuclei in the centre form polar nuclei.
• The three nuclei at the micropylar end are cut off by membranes and form the egg
apparatus.
• The remaining three groups of nuclei (one chalazal and two lateral) degenerate at
maturity.
• Highly polyploid (5x) primary endosperm nucleus is formed after double fertilization.
• Ex.– Family Penaeaceae, Malpighiaceae and
Euphorbiaceae.
PEPEROMIA TYPE
•The egg apparatus of Peperomia type is characterized by a single
synergid.
•The four haploid nuclei of coeno-megaspore undergo two successive
mitotic divisions forming 16 nuclei.
•Two nuclei at the micropylar end form egg and a synergid, eight fuse in
the centre of the cell to form a polar nucleus and the remaining six at the
chalazal end formed antipodals
DRUSA TYPE
• 16 nucleate embryo sac
• This type of embryo sac is characterised by large number of antipodals
• In the mature embryo sac three nuclei form egg apparatus. Two
act as polar nuclei and the remaining 11 nuclei are cut off by
membrane and form antipodal cells.
• The number and organization of nuclei may vary due to irregularity in
the divisions.
• Example – Drusa, Rubia, Chrysanthemum, Ulmus etc.
FRITILLARIA TYPE
• The four haploid nuclei of the coeno-megaspore arrange themselves
in two groups – three at the chalazal end in the form of a triploid
nucleus and one haploid at the micropylar end.
• The triploid chalazal as well as the haploid micropylar nucleus
undergo two mitotic divisions and as a result four trploid nuclei are
formed at the chalazal end and four haploid at the micropylar end.
• In mature embryo sac three haploid nuclei organize into egg
apparatus, three triploid into antipodal and remaining one haploid
and one triploid nuclei move to the centre where they fuse to form a
tetraploid polar nucleus.
Example – Fritillaria, Lilium, Piper and Gaillardia
PLUMBAGELLA TYPE
• The initial development is similar to Fritillaria type and a triploid
nucleus is formed at the chalazal end and a haploid at the
micropylar end.
• Each of these nuclei undergoes a single mitotic division and
form two groups of two nuclei each.
• One triploid nuclei from chalazal end and one haploid nucleus
from the micropylar end fuse at the centre and form tetraploid
polar nucleus.
• One haploid nucleus at the micropylar end forms the egg and
one triploid nucleus at the chalazal end the single antipodal.
There is no synergids
Structure of Mature Embryo Sac
Egg Cell is located at the micropylar end of the
embryo sac and ultimately fuses with a sperm
nucleus to produce a zygote. The egg cell lies
adjacent to the two synergids, separated from
them by either partial cell walls or the
plasmalemma alone. The distribution of
cytoplasm within the egg cell is highly polarized,
due to the presence of a large vacuole at the
micropylar end that restricts the nucleus and
most of the cytoplasm to the chalazal end
Synergids are located on either side of the egg cell, play an important role in fertilization .
The pollen tube discharges its contents into one of the synergids prior to incorporation of
the sperm nuclei into the egg and central cells.
Central Cell this cell contains two nuclei, a large vacuole, and many cytoplasmic organelles.
The polar nuclei originate at both the micropylar and chalazal ends of the coenocytic
megagametophyte and migrate to the center after cellularization. The polar nuclei may
partially fuse with each other before they are fertilized by a single sperm nucleus, generating
the triploid primary endosperm nucleus .The mature endosperm will provide nutrients for
the developing embryo or seedling.
Antipodal Cell-are located opposite the egg at the chalazal end of the embryo sac. No
specific function during reproduction has been attributed to the antipodals, but they are
thought to be involved in the import of nutrients to the embryo sac .
POLLEN GERMINATION AND POLLEN TUBE GROWTH
ENTRY OF POLLEN TUBE INTO OVULE
Mesogamy