Fertilization in flowering plants

Structure of pollen grain and embryo sac

Process of fertilization-(double fertilization)

Pollen grain fall on stigma of the flower. Stigma secrete a sugary substance (sucrose containing boron). Pollen grain on the stigma start to produce pollen tube.

 Pollen grain grow through the stigma into the style. Pollen grain contains a generative nucleus and a tube nucleus. As the pollen tube grows, the generative nucleus divides by mitosis and form two haploid male nuclei. Pollen tube reach the micropyle region and enters into the embryo sac. Tube nucleus degenerate and the two male nuclei enter into embryo sac.

 One of the male nuclei fuses with the haploid egg cell nucleus to form a diploid zygote. The other haploid male nucleus fuses with the two haploid polar nuclei to form a triploid endosperm nucleus. Zygote develops into the embryo of the seed.

Endosperm nucleus develops into endosperm of the seed, which acts as food reserve.