What is the function of pollen tube?

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Detailed Solution

The main function of the pollen tube is to transport the male gametes (sperm cells) from the pollen grain, which lands on the stigma of a flower, directly to the ovule inside the ovary for fertilization.

Mechanism and Importance

Guided Growth: After a pollen grain lands on the stigma, it germinates and forms a pollen tube that grows down through the style, guided by chemical signals, to reach the ovule in the ovary.
Delivery of Sperm Cells: The pollen tube acts as a conduit, transporting two sperm cells from the pollen grain to the embryo sac inside the ovule. One sperm cell fertilizes the egg (forming a zygote), while the other fuses with two other nuclei to form the endosperm, which nourishes the developing embryo. This process is called double fertilization and is unique to flowering plants.
Ensured Fertilization: The pollen tube ensures that the sperm cells are safely delivered directly to the female gametophyte, making fertilization efficient and protecting the gametes from the external environment

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