In onions (Allium), cells of the sporophyte have 16 chromosomes within each nucleus. How many chromosomes should be in an endosperm nucleus?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In onions, the endosperm is a triploid (3n) tissue, resulting from the fusion of a diploid (2n) central cell and a haploid (n) sperm cell. Since the sporophyte (2n) has 16 chromosomes, the endosperm (3n) would have 24 chromosomes (16 + 8 = 24).

In Onions (Allium), Cells of the Sporophyte Have 16 Chromosomes