1) Thompson seedless grapes are produced by vines that are triploid. Think about the consequences of this chromosomal condition for meiosis in the flowers.
a) Why are these grapes seedless?
b) What hormone is most likely being released by the flower to induce the formation of the fruit?
If an organism is triploid, the chromosomes can not pair up properly during meiotic division. Bivalents are formed during prophase of meiosis-I. If there are three sets of chromosomes in the cell, chromosomes can not properly align at the metaphase plate and undergo segregation. This often leads to abortive/improper cell division.
a. The grapes are seedless as the meiotic divisions to produce gametes are abnormal. So, the gametes are non-functional and can not produce a fertile zygote. The zygote is the first cell of the sporophytic generation. Since fertilization is improper, seeds can not develop.
b. Parthenocarpy: Development of fruits without fertilization. It is induced by Gibberellic acid.
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