Occurrence of fecundation and zygote formation

Question

Explain the occurrence of the fecundation and zygote formation within these plants? Whether these processes depend upon the water?

Answer 1

The microsporangia within male strobile burst at the right period of year liberating thousands of the pollen grains. Because their pollen grains are ‘winged’ they may be transported through the wind over the distances. Whenever the pollen grains fall into the female strobiles they pass micropyle and go into the pollen chamber. This process is known as pollination. Inside the pollen chamber the generative cell nucleus divides generation two gametic nuclei and tube cell elongates making the pollen tube. The pollen tube enters into the female gametophyte and the gametic nuclei also called as sperm nuclei, pass through tube; one of them unites along with the oosphere also known as the female gamete and forms zygote (2n). Generally fecundation takes place one year after the pollination and during this time interval the maturation of male and of the female gametes occurs.The fecundation within these plants is independent from the water. The gametophytes though are entirely dependent upon the sporophyte, the adult plant for the nutrition and hydration.