Question

In Bryophytes, the simplest sporophyte occur in
A.Riccia
B.Marchantia
C.Funaria
D.Anthoceros

Answer 1

In Bryophytes, the zygote divides by mitosis and produces a multicellular diploid body called the sporophyte. Sporophyte in most cases is differentiated into foot, seta, and capsule.

Complete answer: Sexual reproduction in Bryophytes is oogamous. Male sex organ- Antheridium is differentiated into stalk and body. It produces flagellated motile antherozoids. Female sex organ- Archegonium, is flask-shaped, stalked with venter and neck. Neck encloses a variable number of neck canal cells and venter encloses venter canal cells and a single large egg.
The neck canal cells, venter canal cells of archegonia, degenerate, and gelatinize. They absorb water and swell up into mucilage and open the lid of the neck which further creates the passage leading to the egg. It has a chemical to attract antherozoids. Antherozoids fuse with the egg to produce a zygote. The zygote divides by mitosis and produces a multicellular diploid body called sporophyte or sporogonium.

Riccia is mostly monoecious (antheridia and archegonia are formed in the same plant). Sporophyte in Riccia is represented by capsule only.
Marchantia is dioecious (antheridia develop on male plants and archegonia develop on the female plant). The sporophyte is represented by three parts called foot, seta, and capsule.
Funaria is monoecious, autoicous(male and female receptacles are borne on separate branches of the same plant). The sporophyte is differentiated into foot, seta, and capsule.
In Anthoceros , the sporophyte is differentiated into the foot and capsule.

So, the correct answer is option A.Riccia.

Note: The sporophyte is not free-living and remains attached to photosynthetic gametophyte and derives nourishment from it.