Question

Commonly, the antheridial cell in Selaginella divides to form a group of twelve cells, out of which __________ are primary androgonial cells.

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 6
• D. 8

Hint:

Four cells form the jacket layer, leaving the rest as primary androgonial cells.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: In Selaginella, the antheridium develops from a single antheridial initial cell that undergoes a series of divisions to build up the mature antheridium.

Step 2: These divisions produce a group of twelve cells in total, of which four form the outer jacket layer of the antheridium, while the remaining eight cells are primary androgonial cells, which go on to divide further and eventually produce the sperm mother cells and sperms.

Step 3: So out of the twelve cells formed, eight, not two, four or six, are the primary androgonial cells.

Step 4: Hence the correct answer is 8.