What is the Difference Between Vegetative and Generative Cell?

The main difference between vegetative and generative cells lies in their roles in plant reproduction and their structure. Both cell types are found within pollen grains, which are the male reproductive cells of plants.

Vegetative cells:

• Non-reproductive in nature.
• Responsible for producing pollen tubes.
• Larger in size compared to generative cells, with large, irregularly shaped nuclei.
• Involved in delivering male gametes into the embryo sac.

Generative cells:

• Reproductive in nature.
• Produce two sperm cells or male gametes following pollination.
• Smaller in size compared to vegetative cells and swim in the cytoplasm of vegetative cells.
• Directly involved in fertilization through the fusion of sperm cells and egg cells.

In summary, vegetative cells support the growth and development of the pollen tube, which carries generative cells to the female reproductive structure, while generative cells produce sperm cells that participate in fertilization.

Comparative Table: Vegetative vs Generative Cell

Here is a table comparing the differences between vegetative and generative cells:

Vegetative cells are non-reproductive and form the pollen tube, which delivers male gametes into the embryo sac for fertilization. They are larger in size and have large, irregularly shaped nuclei. On the other hand, generative cells are reproductive and produce sperm cells within the pollen grain. They are smaller and have smaller nuclei, swimming in the cytoplasm of vegetative cells.