Module: | Double Fertilization & Endosperm
Q66: Consider the following statements regarding cellular endosperm development:
1. In cellular endosperm development, every mitotic division of the primary endosperm nucleus is immediately followed by cytokinesis (cell wall formation).
2. This specific type of development is widely characteristic of the family Solanaceae, including plants like Petunia and Datura.
3. Because it cellularizes immediately, this type of endosperm entirely lacks the ability to form haustorial structures for nutrient absorption.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. This specific type of development is widely characteristic of the family Solanaceae, including plants like Petunia and Datura.
3. Because it cellularizes immediately, this type of endosperm entirely lacks the ability to form haustorial structures for nutrient absorption.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: A
The correct option is A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct, but Statement 3 is fundamentally incorrect.
Endosperm development varies structurally among angiosperms.
Unlike the free-nuclear type (where nuclei multiply without walls) or the helobial type (an intermediate), the cellular type is characterized by immediate and continuous cell wall formation from the very first division of the PEN.
This results in a consistently solid tissue.
It is historically and botanically prominent in the Solanaceae family (Datura, Petunia, tobacco). Statement 3 represents a major misconception in plant embryology.
Cellular endosperms are actually famous for developing aggressive, specialized, multicellular haustoria (projections). These endosperm haustoria causally invade the surrounding maternal tissues (like the nucellus or integuments) to actively pump nutrients back into the main endosperm body to sustain the growing embryo.
Endosperm development varies structurally among angiosperms.
Unlike the free-nuclear type (where nuclei multiply without walls) or the helobial type (an intermediate), the cellular type is characterized by immediate and continuous cell wall formation from the very first division of the PEN.
This results in a consistently solid tissue.
It is historically and botanically prominent in the Solanaceae family (Datura, Petunia, tobacco). Statement 3 represents a major misconception in plant embryology.
Cellular endosperms are actually famous for developing aggressive, specialized, multicellular haustoria (projections). These endosperm haustoria causally invade the surrounding maternal tissues (like the nucellus or integuments) to actively pump nutrients back into the main endosperm body to sustain the growing embryo.