Question

Bryophytes comprise

• A. dominant phase of gametophyte which produces spores s
• B. small sporophyte phase and generally parasitic on gametophyte
• C. sporophyte is of longer duration
• D. dominant phase of sporophyte which is parasitic.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

small sporophyte phase and generally parasitic on gametophyte

Answer 2

In bryophytes the main plant body is gametophytic which is independent and may be thallose (no differentiation in root, stem and leaves) e.g., Riccia, Marchantia, Anthoceros etc. or foliose (having leafy axis) e.g. Sphagnum, Funaria etc. The gametophyte bears the sex organs antheridium and archegonium. Sexual reproduction is of oogamous type. It forms zygote that gives rise to the sporophytic phase. It is differentiated into foot, seta and capsule. The capsule produces spores after meiosis that again gives rise to gametophytic phase. The sporophyte is partially or full dependent upon the gametophyte and is of shorter duration.