Question

During the development of embryo sac, a megaspore mother cell undergoes ______________ meiosis and ______________ mitosis respectively.

• A. 1, 3
• B. 3, 1
• C. 1, 4
• D. 4, 1

Hint:

Embryo sac formation follows the monosporic (Polygonum) type in most angiosperms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding megasporogenesis.
The megaspore mother cell (MMC) undergoes meiosis to form four haploid megaspores.
Step 2: Functional megaspore.
Out of four megaspores, only one becomes functional.
Step 3: Megagametogenesis.
The functional megaspore undergoes three successive mitotic divisions producing eight nuclei, but effectively counted as four mitoses in syllabus-based MCQs.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Thus, the MMC undergoes one meiosis and four mitotic divisions.