synergid

[sə′nər·jəd]

(botany)

Either of two small cells lying in the embryo sac in seed plants adjacent to the egg cell toward the micropylar end.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Synergid

one of usually two cells that with an egg cell form the egg apparatus of the embryo sac of angiospermous plants. In most plants the synergids are destroyed before fertilization (with the entry of a pollen tube into the embryo sac) or after fertilization. In a few plants they are retained for a long time and turn into haustoria.

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References in periodicals archive

This mutation is located on chromosome arm 3L and has as a direct effect an increased number of nuclear divisions before cellularization of the embryo sac, which generates in the embryo sac an indeterminate, extra number of micropylar and synergids cells, egg cells, central cells, and polar nuclei within central cells (Evans, 2007; Guo et al., 2004; Huang & Sheridan, 1996; Lin, 1978, 1981).

Androgenesis revisited

Molecules called cysteine-rich proteins, or CRPs, were most common on the synergid cells.

Plants reveal pollen-luring secrets: molecules of attraction identified in the wishbone flower

An egg cell and synergid cell that consisted of the egg apparatus were located at the micropylar pole but the synergid cell were degenerated very soon (Fig.

Megasporogenesis and development of female gametophyte in Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) cultivar Yanshanzaofeng'

In mature embryo sac three cells were differentiated at the micropylar end that consists of an Oospher and two Synergids. In this study, both synergid cells were seen in the embryo sac.

The mature embryo sac is composed of 7 cells, one central cell contained polar nuclei or secondary nucleus, two synergids and one egg cell that formed egg apparatus and three antipodal cells that are degenerate in the mature embryo sac before fertilization.

Based on present embryological studies, many exceptional events were reported in the members of this family, including Nemec phenomenon (Davis, 1968; Batygina, 1987), increasing of synergids (Cichan and Palser, 1982), increasing of antipodal cells (Richards, 1997; Pandey, 2001), four-celled female gametophyte (Harling, 1951) and apomixis (Davis, 1968; Chaudhury et al., 2001).

Male and Female Gametophyte Development in Cichorium intybus