Question

Development and formation of pollen grains in anther of the stamen is known as
a. Pollination
b. Fertilization
c. Microsporogenesis
d. Megasporogenesis

Answer 1

Pollen grains represent the male gamete of the plant. They are produced inside the anther sacs by the meiotic division of microspore mother cells that are located along the inner edge of the anther sacs.

Complete answer:

Option (A) is incorrect. Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from one flower’s anther to another flower’s stigma.

Option (B) is incorrect. Fertilization is the process of fusion of haploid male and female gametes that leads to the formation of a diploid zygote.

Option (C) is correct. Microsporogenesis is the process of development and formation of pollen grains in the anther of the stamen.

Option (D) is incorrect. Megasporogenesis is the process of formation of megaspores or female gametes inside the ovule in gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
During microsporogenesis, the diploid cell within the microsporangium known as microsporocyte or microspore mother cell undergoes a meiotic division that gives rise to four haploid microspores. These haploid nuclei of microspores are arranged tetrahedrally and then get enclosed within the cell wall which is known as pollen grains or microgametophyte. This maturation of microspores into pollen grains takes place by a process called microgametogenesis. The pollen grains soon dry up and become powdery followed by the breaking of partition walls between the sporangia that leads to the liberation of pollen grains by dehiscence of anthers.

Note: The microgametophyte phase of the plant is contained within the pollen grains. The development and formation of pollen grains take place inside the anther sacs or microsporangia by the process called microsporogenesis.