Which one of the following plays an important role in guiding the entry of pollen tube into the synergid?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Filiform apparatus
Option (1) Filiform apparatus — Correct. It is a special thickening at the micropylar tip of the synergids. It guides the pollen tube into a synergid, where the tube releases the two male gametes.
Option (2) Antipodals — Incorrect. The antipodals are three cells at the chalazal end, far from where the pollen tube enters.
Option (3) Polar nuclei — Incorrect. The two polar nuclei lie in the central cell. They fuse with a male gamete in triple fusion to form the endosperm nucleus; they do not guide the tube.
Option (4) Egg cell — Incorrect. The egg is the female gamete that fuses with a male gamete to form the zygote. The guiding is done by the synergids.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 13-05-2025 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
The Pistil, Megasporangium (ovule) and Embryo Sac – “… There is a characteristic distribution of the cells within the embryo sac. Three cells are grouped together at the micropylar end and constitute the egg apparatus. The egg apparatus, in turn, consists of two synergids and one egg cell. The synergids have special cellular thickenings at the micropylar tip called filiform apparatus, which play an important role in guiding the pollen tubes into the synergid.”