Microsporogenesis and Male Gametophyte — Unsolved Practice Set
Chapter: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants | Topic: Microsporogenesis and Male Gametophyte
MICROSPOROGENESIS AND MALE GAMETOPHYTE — UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Microsporogenesis and Male Gametophyte
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Microsporogenesis refers to the formation of:
- Megaspores
- Microspores
- Endosperm
- Zygote
Q2. The outer, hard layer of a pollen grain made of sporopollenin is called:
- Intine
- Exine
- Tapetum
- Tectum
Q3. A pollen grain at the time of shedding may be:
- 1-celled or 2-celled
- 2-celled or 3-celled
- only 3-celled
- only 1-celled
Q4. Sporopollenin, the material forming the pollen exine, can be dissolved by:
- Water
- Concentrated sulphuric acid
- Alcohol
- None of these
Q5. The cell that undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid microspores is called the:
- Generative cell
- Microspore mother cell
- Vegetative cell
- Tapetal cell
Short Answer Questions
Q6. Why is sporopollenin considered one of the most resistant organic materials known to science?
Q7. What is the significance of pollen banks? Mention one situation in which they prove useful.
Q8. Distinguish between the generative cell and the vegetative (tube) cell of a pollen grain.
Q9. Some people experience allergic reactions during a particular season when certain plants are in bloom. Name the condition responsible for triggering such allergies, and identify which floral structure is involved.
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Describe the process of microsporogenesis, starting from the pollen mother cell to the formation of a pollen tetrad, clearly mentioning the type of cell division involved.
Q11. Explain the structure of a mature pollen grain, describing both its wall layers and the cellular content it holds at the time of dispersal.
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. A researcher finds fossilised pollen grains in rock sediments that are several thousand years old, yet the exine pattern is still clearly preserved. Using your knowledge of pollen wall chemistry, explain why the exine has survived while other floral parts have decomposed.
Q13. A certain plant sheds pollen grains that are already 3-celled at the time of pollination. Predict what would have happened to the generative cell before the pollen even landed on the stigma, and explain the advantage this offers in terms of the time taken for fertilisation.