A megaspore, also known as a macrospore, is a type of spore found in heterosporous plants that develops into a female gametophyte.
Here's a breakdown of what that means:
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Heterosporous Plants: These are plants that produce two distinct types of spores: megaspores and microspores. This is in contrast to homosporous plants which produce only one type of spore.
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Megaspore (Macrospore): This is the larger of the two spore types produced by heterosporous plants.
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Female Gametophyte: The megaspore germinates and develops into the female gametophyte. This gametophyte is a haploid (n) multicellular organism that produces eggs (female gametes).
In summary, the megaspore's role is crucial in the sexual reproduction of heterosporous plants, as it gives rise to the female structure responsible for producing the egg cell.
