Question

Syngamy means
A. Fusion of similar spores
B. Fusion of dissimilar spores
C. Fusion of cytoplasm
D. Fusion of gametes

Answer 1

Sexual reproduction is a type of reproduction. In this complex type of reproduction, a gamete such as a sperm or egg cell with a single set of chromosomes gets combined with another for the purpose of producing an organism composed of cells with two sets of chromosomes.

Complete answer:
Sexual reproduction is a complex technique of reproduction seen in humans, animals, and the majority of plants. This type of reproduction is a more complex and lengthy process than asexual reproduction. But this type of reproduction gives the benefit of variation and offsprings are unique. Sexual reproduction passes through a set of stages and can be divided into three stages which are pre-fertilization, fertilization, and post-fertilization.
Syngamy is an event of the life cycle of sexual reproduction during fertilization. Double fertilization is an important feature found in angiosperms. In this case, two nuclei of sperm that come from each of the pollen tubes go on to fertilize two other cells that belong to the ovary. When one of the sperm cells gets fertilized with one of the egg cells, a diploid zygote is produced and a new embryo is developed from this diploid zygote. The fusion of the gametes during fertilization in such a scenario is known as syngamy. The syngamy also can be defined as true fusion and generative fertilization.
Fusion of two similar spores are known as isogamy while fusion of two dissimilar gametes are known as anisogamy. The process of fusion of cytoplasm is known as plasmogamy.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Additional information:
There are three types of syngamy observed which are isogamy, heterogamy, and oogamy. Isogamy takes place when the fused gametes are similar. It is an advanced system of recognition that is used to avoid self-fertilization. When the gametes that are fuse with each other, are different in size then it is called heterogamy. In this case, generally, the female gamete is larger and the male is smaller. Oogamy is the condition when the mobility of the gametes is different. The oocyte is the non-motile female and spermatozoon is the flagellate male.

Note:
Syngamy is the process of fusion which is taking place between the haploid male nucleus and egg nucleus. It is also known as amphimixis or fertilization. The process of syngamy leads to the ultimate formation of a diploid zygote which causes the recombination of character which causes variation. It is an event that belongs to the cycle of sexual reproduction.