Exercise No.

4
PISTIL AND MEGASPORANGIUM

I. INTRODUCTION

The stigma plays an important part in the germination of pollen because it provides
stigmatic secretion needed by the pollen. This secretion protects the pollen as well as the stigma
from desiccation.
After the tube has emerged from the pollen grain, it makes its way between the stigmatic
papillae into the tissue of the style. There are 3 types of style: Open in which there is a wide
stylar canal; half-closed where the stylar canal is surrounded by layers of glandular cells; closed
type in which there is no open channel but instead a solid core of elongated and richly
protoplasmic cells through which the pollen tubes grow downward.

The Megasporangium (ovule) is a small structure attached to the placenta by means of

a stalk called funicle. The body of the ovule fuses with funicle in the region called hilum. Thus,
hilum represents the junction between ovule and funicle. Each ovule has one or two protective
envelopes called integuments. Integuments encircle the ovule except at the tip where a small
opening called the micropyle is organized. Opposite the micropylar end, is
the chalaza, representing the basal part of the ovule. Enclosed within the integuments is a mass
of cells called the nucellus. Cells of the nucellus have abundant reserve food materials. Located
in the nucellus is the embryo sac or female gametophyte. An ovule generally has a single
embryo sac formed from a megaspore through reduction division. The process of formation of
megaspores from the megaspore mother cell is called megasporogenesis. Ovules generally
differentiate a single megaspore mother cell (MMC) in the micropylar region of the nucellus.
It is a large cell containing dense cytoplasm and a prominent nucleus. The MMC undergoes
meiotic division.

Figure 1. Organization of embryo sac (Reiser and Fischer, 1993)

Figure 1.
Ovule development (Reiser and Fischer, 1993)
(A) Ovule shortly after initiation, showing a single megasporocyte (ms). nu, nucellus.
(B) Ovule after both integuments have been initiated. At this time, the megasporocyte has undergone
the first meiotic division. The axis of the nucellus is transiently perpendicular to the axis of the
funiculus (fu). ii, inner integument; oi, outer integument.
(C) Ovule after meiosis. The functional megaspore (fm) at the chalazal end has expanded, and the
nonfunctional megaspores are degenerated. The axis of the nucellus is now parallel to the funiculus
due to unequal growth, primarily of the integuments. dm, degenerate megaspores.
(D) Ovule after megagametogenesis. The mature embryo sac contains seven cells and eight nuclei.

II. OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the exercise, the students should be able to:

a. identify the parts and functions of the pistil and embryo sac ; and
b. familiarize the process of megasporogenesis and megegametogenesis.

III. MATERIALS:
Prepared slides of: Lily (Lilium sp.) ovary Compound microscope
Zamia ovary
c.s. of stigma
c.s. of style

IV. PROCEDURE:
A. Examine a cross-section of the style, stigma and Lily ovary. Observe the different parts.
Draw, Identify and label parts.

B. Examine a mature embryo of Zamia. Identify what is the type of embryo sac
development? How the eight nuclei were formed? In what process? Draw, Identify and
label parts.

REFERENCES
Simpson, Michael G. 2010. Plant Systematics. 2nd edition. Elsevier Academic press.

Reiser L., Fischer R. L. (1993). The ovule and the embryo sac. Plant Cell. 5 1291–1301.
Name: _________________________________________ Date Performed: __________
Laboratory Schedule: _____________________________ Rating: _________________
Instructor: ___________________________

Exercise No. 4
PISTIL AND MEGASPORANGIUM
V. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS

A. Cross section of Style (___x)

B. Cross section of Stigma (___x)

C. Ovary of Lilium sp. (___x)

D. Mature embryo of Zamia sp. (___x)

E. Draw and fill-up the table below.
Female gametophyte types, based on type of megasporogenesis and sequence of divisions
and cell fusions during megagametogenesis.

Female Megasporogenesis Megagametogenesis

Gametophyte Type
Megasporocyte Meiosis I Meiosis II Mitosis I Mitosis II Mitosis III Mature
female
gametophyte

Monosporic
(8-nucleate)

Monosporic
(4-nucleate)

Bisporic
(8-nucleate)

Tetrasporic
(8-nucleate)

Tetrasporic
(16-nucleate)

VI. CONCLUSION:
VII. GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1.) What is the main anatomical difference between young megasporangium and a mature
megasporangium?

2.) Draw and trace the development of the megaspore from the megasporangium.

3.) Which female gametophyte type is most common and probably ancestral in the
angiosperms?