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The main distinction between the male and female gametophytes is determined by the cell type that forms the two structures. Male gametophytes are produced by microspores, while female gametophytes are produced by macrospores.
Heterosporous produce both male and female gametophytes. In algae and plants, they initiate the sexual reproduction cycle. These species, on the other hand, exhibit generational alternation between sporophytic and gametophytic generations. Male gametophyte and female gametophyte produce male and female gametes, respectively, which are required for sexual reproduction. When two gametes unite, a diploid cell called a zygote is formed, which continues sporophytic generation.
Male Gametophyte
The male gametophyte is the structure that creates male gamete cells. The microsporangium is formed by the microspore and gives rise to the male gametophyte. Antheridium is the name given to the male gametophyte. The male gametophyte is found in pollen grains in gymnosperms where the flower is the primary reproductive structure.
Male reproductive cells are motile and flagellated, and are produced by male gametophyte found in the plants and algae. The female gamete fertilises these reproductive cells after they exit the gametophyte. The male gametes generated by the male gametophyte fertilise algae externally and require an aqueous substrate to do so. Male gametes produced by gymnosperm male gametophytes, on the other hand, are internally fertilised within the ovary or the female gametophyte.
Female Gametophyte
The female gametophyte is a megaspore-derived structure that produces female gametes. In angiosperms, the megasporangium produces megaspores inside the ovary. It is formed in the female cone of gymnosperms, while it is produced in megaphylls of other heterosporous plants. Megasporocytes, which are situated inside the ovule’s nucellus, undergo meiosis to produce four cells. One of the four cells divides into a megaspore, which produces eight haploid nuclei after three mitotic divisions. The female gametophyte is the female stage of the megaspore. The egg cell is one of the haploid cells.
One of the germ nuclei from male gametophyte combines with the egg nuclei to form zygote, & the other germ nucleus fuses with 2 polar nuclei to generate a triploid nucleus in angiosperms. The endosperm develops from the triploid nucleus. The ovary’s walls mature into fruit.
Difference Between Male Gametophyte and Female Gametophyte
Male Gametophyte | Female Gametophyte |
The life stage of the heterosporous plants that generates male gametes is known as the male gametophyte. | Female gametophyte, on the other hand, refers to the stage of life in which heterosporous plants produce female gametes. This clarifies the fundamental distinction between male and female gametophytes. |
The male gametophyte is produced by microspore or pollen grain. | Whereas the female gametophyte is produced by the megaspore. |
Male gametophytes have three cells and all functional cells. | While female gametophytes have eight cells and have only two functional cells. |
After fertilisation, male gametophytes dissolve. | Whereas female gametophytes create new structures. |
Number of Cells in Male Gametophyte and Female Gametophyte
Male gametophytes have three cells and female gametophytes have eight cells.
Male and Female Gametophyte Structure and Development
Development of Male Gametophyte
A pollen grain, which is transformed from a microspore mother cell, is the basic gametophytic structure. Pollen grain germination transforms pollen grain into male gametophyte before pollination. The pollen mother cell divides into 4 microspores within the microsporangium during meiosis cell division, and these microspores grow into the pollen grain over time.
Taptum is the inner layer of the microsporangium that cares for the growing microspores. When the microsporangium matures, it breaks open and releases the pollen.
Structure of Male Gametophyte
A pollen grain is made up of two cells, one generative and the other vegetative, as well as two layers. The pollen is protected by the exine, which is a thick outer coat, and the inline, which is a thin inner layer.
Development of Female Gametophyte
By shifting the nucleus to one side, germination in pollen sac creates a central vacuole formation. Mitosis later separates the nucleus into two nuclei. A vegetative cell is the large cell, whereas a generative cell is the little cell.
The generative cell corners to the smaller section of the pollen grain, while the vegetative cell with cytoplasm serves as conserved food for male gametophytes. The growing pollen grain falls on the stigma during this phase and gets nutrition through germ pore.
By pushing out the intine through germ hole, this absorption magnifies the cell of vegetative & eventually produces the pollen tube. The nuclei travel to the pollen tube at this stage, and the generative cell is split into two haploid cells which are non-motile and one – celled male gametes.
Structure of Female Gametophyte
Monosporic Polygonum type female gametophytes are common. At the micropylar end, there are four nuclei, and at the chalazal end, there are four nuclei. 3 nuclei at the micropylar end form an egg apparatus with an egg cell, two synergids, and one nucleus that migrates to the centre. It’s known as the polar nucleus. Three nuclei at the chalazal end form three antipodal cells, whereas one polar nucleus moved to the centre. An egg apparatus, two polar nuclei and three antipodal cells are present in a mature female gametophyte.
Conclusion
The gametophytic generation, or haploid generation, of plants and some algae is represented by male and female gametophytes. Male gametes are produced by the male gametophyte, whereas female gametes are produced by the female gametophyte. The main difference between female and male gametophytes is determined by the gametophyte’s origin. The male gametophyte is made up of microspores, whereas the female gametophyte is made up of megaspores. As a result, both create gametes, which will be fertilised to develop new organisms through sexual reproduction.
