Final answer:
Before dehiscing, the tapetum functions to support and nourish the developing pollen grains in plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before dehiscing, the tapetum functions to support and nourish the developing pollen grains in plants.
The tapetum is a specialized layer of cells found in the anther of a flower. It surrounds and protects the microspore mother cells, which will undergo meiosis to produce microspores that will later develop into pollen grains.
The tapetum provides key nutrients, enzymes, and hormones necessary for pollen development. Once the pollen is mature and ready for dispersal, the tapetum undergoes dehiscence and releases the pollen into the environment.