Two plant scientists are arguing over the generation of endosperm. Both agree that a germinating pollen grain consists of a pollen tube cell and two sperm cells, and that endosperm is triploid. However, scientist one thinks one of the sperm cells and the tube nuclei fuse with a central cell that contains one nucleus, whereas scientist two thinks only one of the sperm cells fuses with a central cell that contains two nuclei. Which scientist is correct?
A) Both are correct; central cells can contain either one or two nuclei depending on the plant family
B) Both are incorrect; endosperm is diploid
C) Scientist one
D) Scientist two
E) Both are incorrect; endosperm is haploid

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Scientist two is correct because in the process of double fertilization in plants, one sperm cell fuses with the egg cell to form the zygote, while the other sperm cell fuses with the central cell, which contains two nuclei, to form the triploid endosperm.

Two Plant Scientists Are Arguing Over the Generation of Endosperm