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The nucellus is a key part of a plant's ovule, specifically in angiosperms (flowering plants). It is the central tissue within the ovule that encloses the female gametophyte, also known as the embryo sac. The ovule itself is the structure that, after fertilization, develops into a seed.12345

The nucellus plays a role in the development of the embryo sac, which contains the egg cell. After pollination, a pollen tube grows towards the ovule, delivering sperm cells. One sperm fertilizes the egg, forming a zygote that develops into the embryo. Another sperm fuses with polar nuclei to form the endosperm, which serves as food storage for the developing seed. In many angiosperms, the embryo sac enlarges during development, consuming most of the nucellus.341

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