Question

Coconut water from a tender coconut is

• A. innermost layers of the seed coat
• B. degenerated nucellus
• C. immature embryo
• D. free nuclear endosperm.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

In Cocos nucifera (coconut), the coconut water represents free-nuclear endosperm and the surrounding kernel represents the cellular endosperm. The primary endosperm nucleus (PEN) first undergoes a number of free nuclear divisions without wall formation to form a large number of free nuclei (free nuclear endosperm). When the fruit is about 50 mm long, the embryo sac gets filled with a clear fluid in which float numerous nuclei of various sizes. At a later stage (about 100 mm long fruit), the suspension shows, in addition to free nuclei, several cells each enclosing a variable number of nuclei. Gradually these cells and free nuclei start settling at the periphery of the cavity, and layers of cellular endosperm start appearing. This forms the coconut meat. The quantity of the cellular endosperm increases further by divisions of the cells.