Question

Assertion : In a microsporangium, the tapetal cells possess little cytoplasm and generally have a single prominent nucleus.
Reason: During microsporogenesis, the microspore mother cells $(MMCs)$ undergo mitotic divisions to produce haploid microspore tetrads.

• A. If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
• B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
• C. If assertion is true but reason is false
• D. If both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Tapetum is the innermost wall layer of a microsporangium. It nourishes the developing pollen grains. The tapetal cells enlarge radially and become filled with dense protoplasmic contents as well as nutrients. Tapetal cells are generally multinudeate or their nucleus becomes polyploid due to endoploidy. Microsporogenesis refers to the process of formation of haploid microspores (or pollen grains) from a microspore mother cell ($MMC$) or pollen mother cell ($PMC$) through meiosis (and not mitosis).