In botanical terms, what does double fertilization refer to?

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Double fertilization is a unique reproductive process that occurs in flowering plants (angiosperms). The correct answer highlights that this process involves two sperm cells. During double fertilization, one sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell, forming the zygote, which eventually develops into the embryo. The second sperm cell unites with the two polar nuclei located in the central cell of the ovule, leading to the formation of the triploid endosperm, which serves as nourishment for the developing embryo.

This reproductive strategy is significant as it ensures that the seed has a food supply, which is critical for the early growth stages of the plant. The combination of forming both an embryo and a nutrient-rich endosperm from a single fertilization event enhances the plant's reproductive efficiency and survival.

The other options do not accurately describe double fertilization. The idea of multiple eggs being fertilized or two sperm cells fertilizing a single egg cell does not encapsulate the dual roles that the sperm cells fulfill in this process. Additionally, fertilization outside the plant does not pertain to double fertilization in the context of flowering plants.

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