The fertilization processes described below may vary slightly among species (van Went and Willemse, 1984); however, in general, when contact is made with the embryo sac, the pollen tube ruptures releasing the two male gametes and tube nucleus into one of the two synergid cells (degenerate synergid) through the thickened micropylar end of the degenerate synergid called the filiform apparatus. The male gametes travel through the degenerate synergid and one is transferred to the egg and the other 1๐ the central cell.