With a neat diagram explain the 7-celled, 8-nucleate nature of the female gametophyte.

Female gametophyte is also called embryosac.It is highly reduced in angiosperms as they have diplontic life cycle.

Explanation :-Nucleus of the functional megaspore undergoes mitosis resulting in 2-nuclei that move to two opposite poles forming 2-nucleate embryo sac.

Two more mitotic nuclear divisions result in 4-nucleate and later 8-nucleate stages of the embryo sac. So far no cytokinesis (cytoplasmic division) has taken place.

Now cell walls start to build leading to the organisation of female gametophyte or embryo sac.

Six of the 8-nuclei are bound by cell wall and the remaining 2-celled polar nuclei lie below the egg apparatus in the large central cell.

Seven-celled stage

Three cells are grouped together at the micropylar end and constitute the egg apparatus, which is constituted of two synergids and one egg cell.

Three cells at the chalazal end are called antipodals. The large central cell has 2-polar nuclei.

Thus, a typical angiosperm embryo sac at maturity is 7-celled but 8-nucleated as the central cell has 2-nuclei.