Male gametes in diploid maize plants have 10 chromosomes in their nucleus. What would be the number of chromosomes in its female gamete, zygote and the cells of the seedling, respectively?

10, 20, 20

The correct answer is Option (4) – 10, 20, 20

• Male gametes in diploid maize plants have 10 chromosomes in their nucleus. Gametes are haploid, meaning they contain half the number of chromosomes of a diploid cell.
• Female gametes (eggs) in diploid maize plants are also haploid and will therefore have the same number of chromosomes as male gametes, which is 10 chromosomes.
• When fertilization occurs, the male and female gametes fuse to form a zygote, which is diploid. Therefore, the zygote will have 10 (from the male gamete) + 10 (from the female gamete) = 20 chromosomes.
• The cells of the seedling (which grow from the zygote) are also diploid and will therefore have the same number of chromosomes as the zygote, which is 20 chromosomes.

Therefore, the number of chromosomes in the female gamete, zygote, and cells of the seedling, respectively, are 10, 20, and 20.