Monosulcate

Definition

Monosulcate refers to pollen grains that have a single, elongated furrow or groove called a sulcus. This feature is typically found in the pollen of certain early-diverging angiosperms and some gymnosperms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Monosulcate pollen is characterized by having one sulcus, which serves as an aperture for pollen tube germination.
2. This type of pollen is common in magnoliids and some monocots within angiosperms.
3. The presence of monosulcate pollen is considered a primitive trait in flowering plants.
4. Monosulcate pollen can be contrasted with tricolpate pollen, which has three grooves instead of one.
5. Studying the structure of monosulcate pollen helps in understanding the evolutionary history and relationships among seed plants.

Related terms

Sulcus: A groove or furrow on the surface of a pollen grain.

Tricolpate: Pollen grains that have three longitudinal grooves or apertures.

Pollen Tube: A tube that forms after germination of the male gametophyte and delivers sperm cells to the ovule.