Archegonium of Funaria secretes mucilage rich in

Options

A. sucrose
B. glucose
C. malic acid
D. citric acid

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Funaria**: Funaria is a type of bryophyte, which is a non-vascular plant. It is important to note that bryophytes, including Funaria, do not have roots and require water for reproduction.

2. **Role of Archegonium**: The archegonium is the female reproductive structure in Funaria. It is responsible for producing female gametes (egg cells).

3. **Fertilization Process**: In Funaria, fertilization requires water because the male gametes (sperm cells) produced in the antheridium are flagellated and need to swim through water to reach the non-motile female gametes in the archegonium.

4. **Mucilage Secretion**: During the fertilization process, cells of the archegonium disintegrate and secrete a mucilage-rich substance. This mucilage is crucial as it helps in attracting the male gametes.

5. **Composition of Mucilage**: The mucilage secreted by the archegonium is rich in several substances, specifically:
- **Sucrose**
- **Glucose**
- **Malic Acid**
- **Citric Acid**

6. **Function of Mucilage**: The mucilage absorbs water and swells, creating pressure that helps in the opening of the archegonial neck. This allows the mucilage to ooze out, attracting the male gametes (antherozoids) to enter the archegonium.

7. **Attraction of Male Gametes**: The antherozoids are chemically attracted to the mucilage, which facilitates their movement into the archegonium for fertilization.

8. **Formation of Zygote**: Once the male and female gametes fuse, they form a diploid zygote, which will eventually develop into a new organism.

9. **Conclusion**: The correct answer to the question is that the archegonium of Funaria secretes mucilage rich in **sucrose**, along with other substances like glucose, malic acid, and citric acid.

### Final Answer:
The archegonium of Funaria secretes mucilage rich in **sucrose**, glucose, malic acid, and citric acid.

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