microspore

American  

[mahy-kruh-spawr, ‑-spohr] / ˈmaɪ krəˌspɔr, ‑ˌspoʊr /

noun

Botany.

1. the smaller of the two kinds of spores characteristically produced by seed plants and some fern allies, developing into a male gametophyte.

2. a pollen grain.

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microspore British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌspɔː /

noun

1. the smaller of two types of spore produced by some spore-bearing plants, which develops into the male gametophyte Compare megaspore

2. the pollen grain of seed plants

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microspore Scientific  

/ mīk′rə-spôr′ /

1. One of the two types of haploid spores produced by a heterosporous plant. Microspores develop into male gametophytes and are usually smaller than megaspores. In angiosperms, the microspore develops into the pollen grain.

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Other Word Forms

• microsporic
  adjective
• microsporous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of microspore

First recorded in 1855–60; micro- + -spore

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microspore

The microspore undergoes meiosis, producing four cells, each of which becomes a grain of pollen with a hard coating.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Inside the pollen sac is a layer called the tapetum, and within this ring are the microspore mother cells.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Further mitosis of the microspore produces two nuclei: the generative nucleus, and the tube nucleus.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Figure 2. Pollen develops from the microspore mother cells.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The subsequent behavior of the pollen cell, its division and its fertilization of the germinal vesicle or oosphere, leave no doubt as to its analogy with the microspore of vascular cryptogams.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 531, March 6, 1886 by Various