Question

A flower of tomato plant following the process of sexual reproduction produces 240 viable seeds. What is the minimum number of micro spore mother cells involved in this process?

Answer 1

60 micro spore mother cells are involved in providing 240 pollen grains. Because each micro spore mother cell undergoes meiosis producing four pollen grains (i.e. 60 × 4 = 240). Each pollen grain produces two male gametes of which one undergoes true fertilization of ovule producing seeds. Other male gamete participate in double fertilization.