ENDOSPERM
During fertilization one male
gamete (n) fuses with the secondary nucleus (2n) to form a triploid nucleus
(3n) known as primary endosperm nucleus. It divides repeatedly giving rise to a
large number of very small nuclei. Some amount of cytoplasm is being deposited
around each of the nuclei followed by wall formation and the whole mass of
cells is known as endosperm which completely fills up the nucellus.
TYPES OF
ENDOSPERM
On
the basis of behavior of primary endosperm nucleus (PEN), the endosperm may be divided
into the following types –
1. Nuclear type:- This is the most
common method of endosperm development. Here the primary endosperm nucleus
undergoes free nuclear divisions for several times, without any wall formation.
As a result several thousand nuclei are formed which lie in the cavity of the
central cell. These nuclei may be consumed by the embryo or they may become
cellular at the later stage in centripetal manner. Example – French bean,
Garden nustertium, Madar, etc.
2.
Cellular type:-
In some plants cell division of the PEN is followed by the wall formation, so
that the endosperm is formed at once. But the direction of the formation of
first wall with respect to the embryo sac may be different. In Adoxa, the first wall is longitudinal.
But in Custard apple it is transverse and in Heliotropium the first wall formation is oblique.
3. Helobial type:- This type is intermediate
between cellular and nuclear type. Here the first division of the PEN is
followed by a transverse wall resulting in a micropylar and chalazal chamber.
Further divisions are generally free nuclear and may be formed by the
micropylar chamber only. Indian balsam (Impatiens)
is an example of this type.
FUNCTIONS OF
ENDOSPERM
1.
Endosperm provides nutrition to the growing embryo.
2.
In albuminous seeds, the germinating embryo gets nourishments from the
endosperm.
3.
Endosperm is also rich in many plant hormones like gibberellins, cytokinins,
etc.
4.
It also regulates the precise mode of embryo development.
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