How can you tell if a plant cell is haploid (n) or dipliod (2n)?

Question

I do mean physically, as in looking at it. Thanks.

Answer 1

Haploids have half the number of chromosomes than a adult cell of the that kind diploids have regular number. if you mean physically, then i dont know.

Answer 2

Pollen is the only haploid cell you (might) physically see in the angiosperms or gymnosperms.

However, in the ferns and fern-allies, the alternation of generations is much more distinct. Haploid gametophytes take the form of small thalloid organisms that grow at the base of the fern. They're hard to find, but you can see them with the naked eye, and even pick them up - they're small and heart shaped.

Cytologically speaking, it's hard to tell if a plant is 2n or 1n. If its not a fern thallus, sperm, or egg, then its a diploid cell. All three of those conditions, however, are haploid.

Answer 3

If you could get it to divide, you could count the chromosomes to see if the cells are haploid or diploid.

There also are ways to measure the amount of DNA in the nuclei with microscopes that have the equivalent of densitometers (known as microdensitometers).  Several methods use the amount of fluorescence from dyes that specifically bind to DNA.  The oldest microscopic method that used a dye for DNA was known as the Feulgen method.

Here is the link for the Wiki for Feulgen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feulgen_sta...

Another method for separating cells or nuclei based on amounts of DNA is called flow cytotometry.  It is used only in specific research situations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_cytome...

Answer 4

A plant cell is only haploid if its a s*x cell, meaning it has 1/2 the chromosomes a normal plant has.