Question

Male gametophyte with least number of cells is present in
A. Pteris
B. Funaria
C. Lilium
D. Pinus

Answer 1

In male gametophytes, the number of cells shows the pattern of reduction when moving from bryophytes to angiosperms. The male gametophytes are reduced to 2-3 cells in angiosperms and are called the pollen grains. The number of cells is the least in angiosperms.

Complete answer:Lilium is a type of an angiosperm plant in which there is a presence of 3-celled male gametophyte (also called pollen grains) as compared to that of Funaria (belonging to Bryophyta). As moving further from thallophyta to angiosperms, there is a pattern of reduction in the gametophytic generation. The gametophytes become more and more dependent on the sporophytes. The plant groups coming after bryophytes, the gametophytes become less and less prominent.
Lilium (belonging to angiosperms) shows a reduction in the male gametophytes (also called pollen grains). The male gametophyte is only a 3-celled structure.
Funaria and Pinus belong to the group Bryophyta whereas Pteris belongs to the group of Pteridophyta.
So, the order of the number of cells in male gametophytes is Funaria -Pteris -Pinus -Lilium. Where the maximum number of male gametophytic cells is in Funaria and the least number of male gametophytic cells is in Lilium.
Therefore, the correct answer for the above question is option (C) that is Lilium.

Note: There is a reduction in the number of cells in male gametophyte when moving further from bryophytes to angiosperms as the gametophytes become less prominent and more dependent on the sporophyte in angiosperms. Lilium belongs to the group angiosperm and it contains 3-celled male gametophytes (pollen grains).