Q. How are the male gametes of gymnosperms formed? What is the relationship between the pollen grains and the concept of alternation of generations?
In the male strobiles (cones) there are microsporophylls (fertile leaves of the strobile) that include microsporangia. Within the microsporagium spore mother cells undergo meiosis moreover generate haploid microspores. The microspore wall develops keen on winglike projections to facilitate its aerial propagation and mitosis occur producing two cells, the tube cell and the generative cell. The final composition containing these elements is the pollen grain.
The pollen grain relates to the regular change of generations since it is the male gametophyte the haploid stage of the life cycle.