Bodenkornmaterial

Bodenkornmaterial refers to the basic, undifferentiated cells within the ovule of flowering plants. These cells are found in the nucellus, a tissue layer surrounding the embryo sac. Unlike more specialized cells, bodenkornmaterial is characterized by its potential to divide and differentiate into various cell types, forming important structures of the ovule.

During ovule development, bodenkornmaterial contributes to the growth of the nucellus and can give rise to the megasporocyte, the cell that undergoes meiosis to produce megaspores. One of these megaspores will then develop into the female gametophyte, also known as the embryo sac. In some species, bodenkornmaterial may also persist and contribute to the development of the seed coat after fertilization. Its presence and role are crucial for successful sexual reproduction in angiosperms. The term itself, derived from German, literally translates to "soil grain material," alluding to its foundational and unspecialized nature within the plant reproductive structure.