Dr Meenakshi Singh

Professor and Head

Department of Botany

Patna Science College

TYPES OF EMBRYO SAC

Polygonoum type of embroy sac development is the most common type of

1.)MONOSPORIC
The chief characteristics of a monosporic embryo sac is that it is derived from only
one of the four megaspore. All the nuclei in such as embryo sac are genetically
identical because they are derived by mitosis of a single nucleus.
It is of two types:-

(A)Polygonoum type :-
The embroy sac is formed by the chalazal megaspore of the tetrad and is eight
[Link] mature embry sac comprises is 3 celled egg apparatus , three
antipodal cell and a binucleate central cell.
B)Oenothera type:-
This type of embroy sac is derived from micropylar megaspore of the tetrad and is
four nucleate. Mature embroy sac has an egg apparatus and a uninucleate central
cell. eg :- Family ORAGARACEAE
2.). BIOSPORIC
In plants bearing bisporic embroy sac, the first meiotic division is accompanied by
wall formations , so that a dyad is formed. Only one of the dyad cells undergoes
the second meiotic division , wheras the other one degenerates .In the functional
dyad cell wall formation does not occur after the 2nd division and both the
megaspore nuclei contribute to the formations of the embroy sac.
I)Allium type - starasburger -Allium fistulasem.
In this case , of the two cell form after the first meiotic division of mrgaspore
mother cell , the cell toward the chalazal end contribute toward the formation of
embryo sac (8 nucleate) with 3 antipodal cell , two central cell, two synergids and
one egg cell and the micropylar sided cell of the dyad degenrate.
ii.) Endymion type:-
In this case the of the two dyad cell , the cell toward the micropylar end
contribute to the formation of function embryo sac (8 nucleate)

[Link]
In this group neither of the meotic division is accompanied by wall formation so
that at the end of the meiosis all the four haploid nuclei remain in a common
cytoplasm forming a coenomaegaspore .
All the four nuclei of the coenomegaspore take part in the formation of the
embryo sac.
Nuclear behaviour in tetrasporic embryo sac is quite variable . The arrangement
of the four nuclei in the coenomaegaspore ,before the beginning of postmeiotic
mitosis is of three types-
I .(2+2) arrangement- two nuclei at the micropylar end and two at the chalazal
end. e.g;-Adoxa type.
Ii.(1+1+1+1) arrangement- one nucleus at the micropylar end, one at the chalazal
end and two placed laterally one on each side. e.g;-Plumbago type, Penaea type,
Peperonia type.
Iii.( 1+3) arrangement- one nucleus at the micropylar end and three at the
chalazal end e.g;- Drusa type, Fritillaria type, Plumbagella type.
I) [Link] type or Lilium type(2+2)
It is characterized by all the four megaspore nuclei undergoing just one
more division to form an 8 – nucleate embryo sac having a normal egg
apparatus , three antipodal cell and two ploar nuclei.
II) [Link] type(1+1+1+1)
There is only one post meiotic mitosis . The mature embryo sac
comprises an egg cell ,and a four nucleate central cell. The other three
cells are cut off a peripheral cells.
III) Penaea type(1+1+1+1)
As a result of two post meiotic mitosis in coenomaegaspore 16
nuclei are formed .
The mature embryo comprises 4 group of 3 cells each – one group
is at the micropylar end , one at the chalazal end and two
arranged laterally. The remaining four nuclei behave as polar
nuclei . The micropylar tetrad behave as a egg apparatus.
IV) Peperonia type(1+1+1+1)
16 nuclei resulting from two post meiotic mitosis
The organisation of the mature embryo sac is: an egg appratus
consist of one egg and one synergied, 6 peripheral cells, one
central cell with 8 polar nuclei
V) Drusa type(1+3)
It is also 16 nucleate. The mature embryo sac comprises a normal
egg appratus (3 celled), polar nuclei two celled and 11 antipodal
cells.
VI) Fritillaria type(1+3)
It is of 8 nucleate type. After the second meiotic division three megaspore nuclei
fuse to form a triploid cell at the chalazal end. The fourth nucleus at the
micropylar end remain haploid.
After the nuclear division both the nuclei of the coenomaegaspore
( one haploid and one triploid) divide twice forming four nuclei at each
pole.
The mature embryo sac comprises an egg appratus of three haploid
cells, three triploid cantipodal cells and a central cell with two polar
nuclei- one haploid and one triploid.
Plumbagella type(1+3)
After the second meiotic division three megaspore nuclei fuse to form a
triploid nucleus at the chalazal end. The fourth nucleus at the
micropylar end remain haploid.
After the nuclear fusion both the nuclei by single division form two
nuclei at each pole. One of the haploid nuclei at the micropylar end
form egg and the other one functions as the upper polar nucleus.
Similarly , one of the triploid nuclei at the chalazal end forms a single
antipodal cell, whereas the other function as the lower polar nucleus.
SPECIAL TYPE
Chrysanthemum type:- tetra sporic type(1+2+1)
At the end of the meiosis the four nuclei in the are arranged in 1+2+1
fashion ,one at the micropylar end ,one at the chalazal end and two in
the centre of the cell.
Based on the behaviour of the central nuclei there are two variation
within the embryo sac.
 I)The two central nuclei remain close but do not fuse. The other
two nuclei divide twice forming 4 nuclei at each pole of the cell,
 the central nuclei do not divide even once. Thus the embryo sac is
10 nucleate . All the four nuclei at the chalazal end organises into
the antipodal cells. At the micropylar end three nuclei organise
into egg appratus while the fourth one along with the two central
nuclei function as the polar nucleus.
 11)The two central nuclei fuse to form a diploid nucleus . After
fusion all the three nuclei undergo two mitotic division (12
nucleate) . The three nuceli at the micropylar end are cut off as
egg- appratus and the fourth one is left free as a polar nucleus. All
the four nuclei of the chalazal end and three nuclei from the
middle function as antipodal cells. The central cell is left with a
diploid nucleus from the middle and a haploid nucleus from the
micropylar end.