Question

Do gymnosperms have chlorophyll?

Answer 1

Chlorophyll is known to be the green pigment that is present in plants and few organisms that help in the process of photosynthesis by absorbing light of a particular wavelength which is then used in the production of carbohydrates for the plants and organisms.

Complete answer:
Gymnosperms which are often known as the seed producing plants are a major group of green plants that are further subdivided into six different phylum- cycadophyta, gnetophyta, ginkgophyta, pinophyta, cordaitales and pteridospermales. Gymnosperms along with angiosperms together make up the spermatophytes or seed producing plants.

Gymnosperms comprise over thousand living species and they are known to have originated during the late carboniferous period. Conifers are known to be the most abundant gymnosperms that are characterized by long, thin, needle like leaves and are also known to be evergreen plants. Following conifers the next most abundant group is Cycads which are also evergreen plants with large and stiff leaves.

Gymnosperms spend most of their life cycle having diploid cells and much less time bearing gametophytes. The gametophytes then produce pollen grains which form sperm cells and also megagametophyte which produces the megaspores. Pollination in gymnosperms takes place with the help of wind or water giving rise to the embryo. So gymnosperms do have chlorophyll.

Note: Gymnosperms are useful plants as they have various economic uses such as in the production of paper, resin, in lumber. Few of the gymnosperms are also used for production of soap, nail polish, gum, food and perfumes.