Structure of ovule and types

Female reproductive part of the flower is called gynoecium or pistil. It consists

of three parts known as ovary, style and stigma. In Angiosperms ovules are attached
to the placenta on the inner wall of the ovary by a stalk called funicle. The
integumented megasporangium is known as ovule. A mature ovule consists of a
funicle and oval shaped body.
The point where the funicle is attached to the body of ovule is called
hilum. In anatropous ovules funicle extend beyond hilum along the body of the ovule
and form a ridge called raphe. In mature ovules a diploid tissue called nucellus is
enclosed by one or two integuments, leaving a small opening at the apical end called
micropyle. The basal region of the ovule where funicle fuses with nucellus and
integuments is called chalaza. In the nucellus female gametophyte or embryo sac
is present.

Figure.1 Gynoecium Figure 2. L.S of ovule

Various parts that are present in the ovule are
1. Integuments
2. Endothelium
3. Obturator
4. Micropyle
5. Nucellus
6. Embryo Sac
7. Hypostase
8. Epistase

1. Integuments: In ovules, nucellus is enveloped by one or two integuments. In

some ovules integuments are absent. The following conditions are present with
respect to integuments.

i.Unitegmic ovules: In unitegmic ovules the ovule is enclosed by one integument e.g.
Sympetalae.

ii. Bitegmic ovules: Ovule with two integuments is called bitegmic ovule e.g:
Polypetalae.

iii. Ategmic ovules: In some ovules nucellus is not enclosed by integuments. These
are called ategmic ovules and present in parasitic plants, e.g. Loranthus, Viscum,
Santalum.

iv. Aril: In some plants, third integument develops from the base of the ovule is
known as aril e.g. Litchi, Myristica fragrans. In Litchi aril is fleshy and edible.

v. Caruncle: It is an outgrowth of the outer integument found near the micropylar

region e.g. Ricinus. Presence of caruncle is characteristic feature of the family
Euphorbiaceae. It is useful for dispersal of seeds in some plants. It becomes swollen
after absorption of water and useful to separate ovule from placenta, later on useful
for seed germination.

After Fertilization ovule develops into seed and integuments form the seed coat.
After Fertilization ovule develops into seed and integuments form the seed coat.

2. Endothelium: It is present in the plants

belonging to the sympetalae with unitegmic,
tenuinucellate ovules. In these ovules
nucellus degenerates at an early stage of
ovule development. So the innermost
layer of the integument becomes
specialized to perform nutritive function
for the embryo sac. It is single layered.
But it is multi- layered in Asteraceae. In
Helianthus 10-12 layers are present.
The cells are radially elongated with dense
cytoplasm, nucleus and store starch and fats.
Multinucleate condition is present in
Balanites. It is also called an integumentary
tapetum as it performs nutritive function for
developing embryo.

3. Obturator: Any ovular

structure that is associated
with directing the growth of
pollen tube towards the
micropyle is generally
referred to as an obturator.
Obturators exhibit great
variation in their origin,
morphology, anatomy and
extent of development. They may originate from funiculus or placenta or both. The
most common type obturator is one formed by local swelling of funiculus
e.g. Acanthacae, Anacardiaceae, Labiateae, Magnoliaceae
 In Crinum, the funiculus simply becomes knee-like and functions as an
obturator.

In Ceratocephalus, the cells of funicular epidermis, above the mocrophyle

elongate radially with dense cytoplasm acting as an obturator. Placental obturator
occurs in the Euphorbiaceae and Cuscutaceae. In Thymelaeaceae the obturator
originates from the stylar region. Cells of stylar canal elongate, extending up to the
mocrophyle. In Caltha the cells of the obturator show wall in growths, a
characteristic feature of transfer cells. In Aegle some epidermal cells of funiculus as
well as placenta elongate into densely cytoplasmic multicellular hairs reaching as
far as the micropyle. The pollen tube grows along the obturator.

4. Micropyle: Integuments do not cover the nucellus of an ovule completely and

leave a small opening known as micropyle. Pollen tube enters through this passage
into the ovule.

In bitegmic ovules either both

the integuments or only the inner
integuments is involved in the
formation of micropyle. When both
integuments are involved, the passage
formed from the outer integument is
called exostome and that formed by
the inner integument is called
endostome. In Resedaceae a zig-zag
path is formed, where endostome and exostome are not in the same line; exostome
and endostome are arranged at right angles to each other (e.g. Leguminosae). An
exudate secreted by the nucellar cap and inner integument of Ornithogalum serves
as a stimulus for pollen tube to enter the micropyle.
5. Nucellus: Nucellus is a diploid tissue that is present in the body of ovule,
enclosed by integuments. It is a wall of mega sporangium. Only one nucellus
is present in each ovule, abnormally twin nucelli may occur in a common
fold of integuments e.g. Aegle marmelos. Hydrocleys nymphoides. Nucellus
develops from archesporium, below the nucellar epidermis. In Angiosperms, the
ovules are classified into two types on the basis of the extent of nucellus.

1. Crassinucellate 2.Tenuinucellate

1. Crassinucellate: In polypetalae and monocotyledons the archesporial cell

undergoes transverse division forming an outer parietal cell and an
inner sporogenous cell. The parietal cell undergoes few periclinal and anticlinal
divisions. So the sporogenous cell gets embedded in the massive nucellus and is
called crassinucellate ovules.

2. Tenuinucellate: In sympetalae the archesporial cell directly acts as a

megaspore mother cell. In such ovules where the sporogenous cell is hypodermal and
nucellar tissue present around it remains single layered are called tenuinucellate.
Tenuinucellate ovules are more advanced than Crassinucellate ovules.
Nucellar tissue is generally confined to inner integument, but rarely it is projected into
micropyle (Caryophyllaceae) or beyond it forming a beak like structure called nucellar
beak e.g. members of Euphorbiaceae, Cucurbitacae, Nyctaginaceae. Nucellus is consumed
by developing embryo sac or endosperm. In some plants nucellus is present in mature seed as
nutritive tissue called perisperm.

6.Embrayosac: It is also called a female gametophyte. Embryo sac is a 7 celled or

8 nucleate structure present in the nucellus. The embryo sac has a large central cell with two
polar nuclei which later fuse to form the secondary nucleus. Egg apparatus is present
at the micropylar end comprising an egg cell and two synergids, three antipodal cells
are present at the chalazal end. Cells of the egg apparatus and antipodal cells are
uninucleate and haploid, whereas the central cell is binucleate or diploid.

7. Hypostase: Hypostase refers to a group of disc like or plate like cells present right below
the embryo sac and above the vascular supply to the funiculus. It is derived from nucellar
cells. The cells of hypostase become thick walled due to lignification and are poor in
cytoplasmic contents. Occasionally, the cells of the hypostase may surround a portion
of the embryo sac and may even extend into the micropylar half of the ovule.

In Agave, the cells of hypostase accumulate starch, proteins and lipids. Hypostase
occurs in many families such as Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae, Zingiberace Euphorbiaceae,
Theaceae and Umbelliferae. In the Loranthaceae a hypostase is present below the
archesporium. In Aristolochia it persists in the mature seed.
. Functions of hypostase:

1. Van Tiegham coined the term hypostase and suggested that hypostase forms a barrier
or boundary for growing embryo sac and prevents from protruding into the base of the
ovule
2. It maintains water balance in a resting seed during hot dry seasons.
3. Hypostase transports nutrients by connecting the vascular bundle in the funiculus
with the embryo sac
4. It produces certain enzymes or hormones.
5. Take up protective role in mature seed

8. Epistase:

Epistase is a caplike structure of cutinized cells formed above the embryo sac by the
nucellar epidermis, e.g. Costus, Castalia. It may be nutritive in function.

Types of ovules

Mature ovules are classified into six types, based on the position of
micropyle with respect to funiculus.

i.Atropous or orthotropous ovule: The Ovule is straight. The micropyle, chalaza and the
funiculus lie in one line. E.g. Polygonaceae, Piperaceae, Urticaceae.

ii.Anatropous Ovule: In this type, the body of the ovule becomes completely
inverted. They curve upto 1800. So micropyle and funicle come to lie very
close to each other. The micropyle and chalaza lie on the same vertical axis, but
not funicle. It is the most common type of ovule in angiosperms. In Angiosperms,
82 percent of the families bear anatropous ovules.e.g. Helianthus, Tridax, Castor
iii. Hemianatropous or hemitropous ovule: These ovules show curvature up to
900. In this ovule , funicle is at right angles to the micropyle. Hence micropyle
and chalaza are on the same line. e.g. Rananculaceae, Primulaceae.

iv. Campylotropous ovule : In campylotropous ovule the curvature is less

than that in anatropous ovule. In this ovule the micropylar region becomes
curved, without any curvature in the embryo sac e.g. Capparidaceae,
Fabaceae, Brassicaceae.

v. Amphitropous ovule: Here the curvature of the ovule affects the nucellus, so
that the embryo sac bends like horse-shoe shaped e.g. Centropermaceae,
Alismataceae.

vi. Circinotropous ovule: The ovule becomes anatropous due to unilateral

growth.As the curvature continues, the micropyle again comes upward in a fully
formed ovule. In circinotropous ovule the funicle is very long, forms an accessory
envelope and coils like a watch spring around the body of the ovule. e.g. Cactaceae,
Plumbaginaceae.

A. Orthotropous ovule B. Anatropous Ovule C. Hemianatropous Ovule

D. Campylotropous ovule E. Amphitropous ovule F. Circinotropous ovule

Student activity:

1. Can draw neat labeled diagrams.

2. Can observe different types of ovules under microscope.

References:

1. P. Maheshwari. 1950, An Introduction to the Embryology of Angiosperms, McGraw Hill

Book Company INC, New York.

2. M. Johri K. B. Ambegaokar (auth.) |Professor Brij Mohan Johri (eds.) 1984, Embryology of
Angiosperms, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo.

3. S. S. Bhojwani & S. P. Bhatnagar, 1999, The Embryology of Angiosperms, Vikas

Publishing House PVT LTD, New Delhi.

4.Telugu Acdemy text Book, 2011B.sc Second Year Botany