Plant sperm cells are contained within pollen grains. While "pollen" itself isn't the sperm, it's the structure that carries and protects the sperm cells to the ovule for fertilization.
Here's a breakdown:
-
Pollen: Pollen is a powdery substance produced by the male parts of seed plants (typically the stamen) that contains the microgametophytes.
-
Microgametophyte: Each pollen grain represents a highly reduced microgametophyte.
-
Sperm Cells (Male Gametes): The microgametophyte within the pollen grain produces the male gametes, which are essentially the plant's sperm cells. These sperm cells are responsible for fertilizing the egg cell in the ovule, leading to the formation of a seed.
Think of it like this: pollen is the "delivery vehicle" and the sperm cells are the "package" being delivered. The term sperm refers specifically to the male gametes contained within the pollen.
