Antherozoid (Noun)
Meaning
A motile male gamete of a plant such as an alga or fern or gymnosperm.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The antherozoid of a fern is a small, flagellated cell that swims through water to fertilize the egg cell.
- In some algae, the antherozoid is released from the male gametangium and then fuses with the egg cell.
- The antherozoid of a gymnosperm is not as well-studied as that of ferns and other plants.
- During fertilization, the antherozoid penetrates the egg cell and fuses with it to form a zygote.
- In some species of algae, multiple antherozoids are released and compete to fertilize a single egg cell.