Double Fertilization Means That

Question

Double fertilization means that
A)flowers must be pollinated twice to yield fruits and seeds.
B)every egg must receive two sperm to produce an embryo.
C)one sperm is needed to fertilize the egg, and a second sperm is needed to fertilize the polar nuclei.
D)the egg of the embryo sac is diploid.
E)every sperm has two nuclei.

Accepted Answer

Double fertilization is a unique process that occurs in angiosperms. One sperm fertilizes the egg to produce the zygote, while the other sperm fertilizes the polar nuclei to produce triploid endosperm. This is essential for the successful development of seeds in flowering plants. Therefore, option C, which states that one sperm is needed to fertilize the egg, and a second sperm is needed to fertilize the polar nuclei, is the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because pollination and fertilization are two different processes. Option B is incorrect because it is not possible for every egg to receive two sperm. Option D is incorrect because the egg of the embryo sac is haploid, not diploid. Option E is also incorrect because not every sperm has two nuclei.