Question

A bilobed dithecous anther has 200 microspore mother cells per microsporangium. How many male gametophytes can be produced by this anther?

Hint:

The exine's strong and durable sporopollenin protects the pollen grain during its transport, while the intine aids in the development of the pollen tube for fertilization.

Answer 1

Male gametophytes produced by a bilobed dithecous anther:
- A bilobed dithecous anther consists of two lobes, and each lobe has two microsporangia (pollen sacs).
- Each microsporangium contains 200 microspore mother cells (microsporocytes).
- Each microspore mother cell undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid microspores.
- Thus, the number of male gametophytes produced by one microspore mother cell is 4.
- As there are 200 microspore mother cells per microsporangium, the number of microspores (male gametophytes) produced by one microsporangium will be \( 200 \times 4 = 800 \).
- Since there are two microsporangia in each lobe and two lobes in the anther, the total number of male gametophytes produced by the anther will be: \[ \text{Total male gametophytes} = 800 \times 2 \times 2 = 3200 \] Thus, the anther can produce 3200 male gametophytes.