Question

Endosperm is consumed by the developing embryo in
A)Coconut
B)Pea
C)Maize
D)Castor

Answer 1

Endosperm is a tissue which is formed inside the seeds of flowering plants after fertilization. It is usually triploid. The embryo is surrounded by endosperm and gets nutrition in the form of starch. The endosperm is formed when the two sperm nuclei fuse with the central cell which is binucleate. The nucleus is also called the Triple fusion nucleus.

Complete step by step answer: Option A- Coconut
Coconut endosperm is coconut water (liquid). It is formed by the flesh of completely developed coconuts. The endosperm is not consumed completely.
Option B- Pea
Pea is a dicot seed. These cotyledons are fleshy, food-storing, and nourish the embryo. The endosperm is consumed completely by the developing embryo.
Option C- Maize
The endosperm of maize is a large organ that provides storage. It grows at a very fast rate and gradually replaces the nucleus. Maize is a monocot and the outer layer of maize endosperm is called Aleurone.
Option D- Castor
The endosperm of castor seed is made of protein bodies that contain phytin globoids and protein crystalloids which are embedded in the proteinaceous matrix. Castor seed is an embryonic seed.
Thus, the correct option is Option B- Pea.

Note: The process in which there is a formation of a triple fusion nucleus is called Double fertilization. This process usually occurs in higher plants, i.e., Angiosperms. About 70% of angiosperms form endosperm which is polyploid (mainly triploid). There are three types of endosperm development in angiosperms- Nuclear, Cellular, and Helobial.