A typical anther shows i. Two lobes with two theca each ii. Each lobe ...
An anther is the male reproductive structure found in the flower of angiosperms. It contains the microsporangia, which produce the microspores that develop into pollen grains. Let's explore the characteristics of a typical anther in detail:
i. Two lobes with two theca each:
- An anther usually consists of two lobes, also known as sporangia or sacs.
- Each lobe is further divided into two theca, which are elongated structures that contain the microsporangia.
- The theca are connected by a narrow strip of tissue called the connective.
ii. Each lobe as dithecous:
- The term "dithecous" refers to the presence of two theca in each lobe of the anther.
- This is a common characteristic of most angiosperms, where each lobe contains two pollen sacs.
iii. All cells in a given microsporangium as potential PMC:
- PMC stands for Pollen Mother Cell, which is a specialized cell that undergoes meiosis to produce haploid microspores.
- In a typical anther, all cells within a microsporangium have the potential to become PMC.
- The microsporangium is surrounded by several layers of wall cells, and within these walls, the cells divide and differentiate to form the PMC.
iv. Thousands of microspores per microsporangium:
- Each PMC undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid microspores.
- Therefore, in a typical anther, there are thousands of microspores produced within each microsporangium.
- These microspores are small, single-celled structures that are eventually released as pollen grains.
In conclusion, a typical anther exhibits several characteristics such as two lobes with two theca each, dithecous nature, all cells in a given microsporangium being potential PMC, and the production of thousands of microspores per microsporangium. These features are important for the successful production and dispersal of pollen, which is crucial for the process of pollination in angiosperms.