Gymnosperm Fertilization In gymnosperms, the gametophyte stage is short-lived. The male gametes are microgametophytes and
develop from microspores producing sperm cells. Megagametophytes or the female gametes develop from
the megaspores and are present in the ovule. The female gametophyte produces multiple archegonia.
Pollen grains are transferred between plants from pollen cone to the ovule through pollinators like wind or
insects. Pollen grains enter into ovule through micropyle. The pollen grains mature inside the female
gametophyte and produce sperm cells.
Two modes of fertilization is seen in gymnosperms. In plants like
Cycads and
Ginkgo, sperms are motile
and they swim directly into the egg inside the ovule. In plants like
conifers and
gnetophytes, the sperms have
no flagella and they are passed on to the egg through the pollen tube. After fertilization, the resulting embryo
develops in the female gametophyte and the ovule forms into a seed and a seed coat. This will become are
new sporophyte which consists of two embryonic leaves.
