How do pollination drops help gnetophytes capture pollen?

In gnetophytes, pollination drops play a critical role in capturing pollen grains to facilitate fertilization. At the time of pollination, the integument of the female ovule elongates, and a viscous, sugar-rich solution is extruded through the opening (micropyle) to form a pollination drop at the tip.1

This drop serves two primary functions:
* Attraction: The high sugar content of the pollination drop helps attract insects, which may assist in the transfer of pollen.1
* Capture and Transport: The drop acts as a receptive surface for pollen grains transported by wind or insects. As the sugary solution dries, the pollen grains are pulled inward through the integument and deposited onto the nucellus, where they can germinate and form a pollen tube to reach the egg cell.12