Correct option is C
Explanation-
Statement A - WOX2 and WOX8 are present in both the egg cell and the zygote - CORRECT
WOX2 and WOX8 transcripts are maternally deposited in the egg cell and persist into the zygote after fertilization. This maternal inheritance ensures that the zygote already has early determinants for patterning.
Statement B - WOX2 is present in the apical and basal cell - INCORRECT
WOX2 expression is restricted to the apical cell after the first zygotic division. It plays a role in establishing the shoot apical meristem and embryonic proper. WOX8, not WOX2, is found in the basal cell, which later contributes to the suspensor and root pole. So, the statement is factually wrong because WOX2 is not expressed in both apical and basal cells — only in apical.
Statement C - WOX8 along with WOX9 regulates the development of basal lineage - CORRECT
After the zygote divides asymmetrically, WOX8 is expressed in the basal daughter cell and contributes to basal cell fate. WOX9 expression follows WOX8 and works together to support development of the suspensor and basal parts of the embryo. They function downstream of WRKY2 and act as basal lineage determinants, regulating embryonic polarity and patterning.
Statement D - WOX8 and WOX9 are directly activated in the zygote by the transcription factor WRKY2 - CORRECT
WRKY2 is a transcription factor expressed in the zygote. It directly binds to the promoters of WOX8 and WOX9 and activates their transcription. This activation is crucial for establishing asymmetric division of the zygote and basal cell lineage specification.
Correct combination: A, C, and D
So, the correct answer is Option c.
