Question

Gemmae are asexually reproductive bodies of
A. Algae
B. Liverworts
C. Mosses
D. Both B and C

Answer 1

Reproduction is the process through which one organism produces their offspring to maintain their number on Earth. Some of the organisms undergo sexual reproduction and some undergo asexual reproduction.

Complete Answer:
- We should know about reproduction as reproduction is the life process of organisms that helps them to grow the population. The reproduction ensures the continuity of organism generation to generation. The reproduction is of two types; asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction.
- Asexual reproduction is a process of reproducing the offspring through simple division of cells, this type of reproduction is observed in single cell organisms, it does not undergo fusion of gametes therefore, and the offspring produced by asexual reproduction are genetically identical. The asexual reproduction is further divided into; binary fission, budding, fragmentation, and sporogenesis.
- The spore-producing process in the life cycle of a plant is called sporophyte. There are 2 reproductive stages in plants: sexual and asexual. The alternation of generation secretes these two phases into the sporophyte and gametophyte via the cycle of meiosis and fertilization. Sporophyte is the phase when plants produce diploid (2n) spores which develop into gametophytes in turn to spores.
- The production of gemmae is a widespread that means the asexual reproduction in both mosses and liverworts. In liverworts like Marchantia, the flattened plant body or thallus is a haploid gametophyte with gemma cups scattered in the upper part. The gemma cups are cup-like structures consisting of gemmae. The gemmae are small discs of haploid tissue and they directly rise the gametophytes and are dispersed from gemma cups by rainfall, they may be formed as outgrowth from the gametophyte portion and they are considered as exogenous gemmae.

Hence the correct answer is option C.

Note: Asexual organisms do not show variation as the progeny receives the characteristics from a single parent and this results in the transfer of similar characteristics from generation to generation.