Male and Female Gametophytes in Flowering Plants

Gametophytes are haploid structures that produce gametes in plants. In flowering plants, the gametophytes are the male pollen grains and the female ovules. Both of these structures produce gametes that are necessary for sexual reproduction in plants.

Male Gametophyte

The male gametophyte, or pollen grain, develops from a microspore that is produced in the anthers of flowers. Each microspore undergoes mitosis to produce two cells: a generative cell and a tube cell. The tube cell grows into a pollen tube that will deliver the generative cell to the female gametophyte. The generative cell divides to produce two sperm cells. These sperm cells are the male gametes that will fertilize the female gametes.

Female Gametophyte

The female gametophyte, or ovule, develops from a megaspore that is produced in the ovary of flowers. The megaspore undergoes mitosis to produce a multicellular structure called the embryo sac. The embryo sac contains seven cells, including two synergids that guide the pollen tube to the egg cell, an egg cell that will be fertilized by the sperm, and three antipodal cells that are thought to be involved in nourishing the embryo.

Production of Gametes

The male gametophyte produces two sperm cells that are delivered to the female gametophyte by the pollen tube. One sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell to form a zygote, which will develop into the embryo. The other sperm cell fuses with two polar nuclei in the embryo sac to form the endosperm, which will provide nutrients to the developing embryo.

Conclusion

In summary, the male and female gametophytes of flowering plants produce gametes that are necessary for sexual reproduction. The male gametophyte produces two sperm cells that are delivered to the female gametophyte by the pollen tube. One sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell to form a zygote, and the other sperm cell fuses with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm.

Answer is sperm and egg...option (d) is correct