Figure 32.8 An embryo sac is missing the synergids. What specific impact would you expect this to have on fertilization?

a. The pollen tube will be unable to form.

b. The pollen tube will form but will not be guided toward the egg.

c. Fertilization will not occur because the synergid is the egg.

d. Fertilization will occur but the embryo will not be able to grow.

The ovule is the structure found inside the ovary where the female egg cell is developed and stored. It is comprised of nucleus, integument and female gametophyte.

The female gametophyte is an oval structure found in the ovules. It is also called an embryo sac. Embryo sac is formed as a result of haploid megaspore nucleus division. It is made up of two haploid nuclei and six haploid cells (two synergids, three antipodal cells, and one egg cell) with no cell walls (polar nuclei).

• The pollen tube formation is not dependent on absence or presence of the synergid.
• The egg is not the synergid. It is located in pairs on either side of the egg cell and is a part of the embryo sac.
• There will be no fertilisation as pollen tubes won't be guided to the egg without synergids and hence no embryo development will happen.

The function of synergid is to guide the pollen tubes to the egg cell for successful fertilization.

• The filiform apparatus of the synergids produces chemical substances that helps guide the pollen tubes to the embryo sac.
• The male gametes from the pollen tube are released on degeneration of synergids.