Question

Spore of Funaria, on germination gives rise to
(a) Protonema
(b) Embryo
(c) Antheridia
(d) Archegonia

Answer 1

Protonema is a multicellular and primitive type of plant which grows mostly in shady places and is autotrophic. They show vegetative reproduction and sexual reproduction as well. In vegetative reproduction, spore formation occurs which gives rise to the juvenile stage of the organism.

Complete answer:
On germination, the spores of Funaria give rise to protonema. It is the initial stage of the organism which turns to gametophyte at maturity. Protonema is a filamentous green chain of cells that forms the juvenile gametophyte stage. The buds forks on the chloronemata of protonema and differentiates into gametophores.
So, the correct answer is ‘Protonema’.

Additional Information: Funaria is a type of moss that reproduces by forming spores. They grow in moist shady and cool places mainly during wet seasons and form a dense cushion-like structure. These are radially symmetrical with an axis(stem), phylloid(leaves), and rhizoids(colorless branches) with oblique septa.
They show alternation of generation in which the gametophytic stage alternates with the saprophytic one. In the case of the gametophytic phase, the body has two distinct stages- one is juvenile known as primary protonema and the other is the leafy gametophyte representing the adult organism. The adult gametophyte has the structure mentioned above.
Protonema forms after germination which occurs during unfavorable conditions. The terminal cells divide by transverse and longitudinal divisions and form the green multicellular bodies of 10-30 cells known as gemmae. This gamma, in favorable conditions, germinates to give rise to new plants.

Note: Vegetative reproduction occurs in different ways in Funaria which are mainly primary protonema, apospory, secondary protonema, gemma, and bulbis. In the primary and secondary protonema, the protonema develops from spores and injured parts of gametophyte respectively, and bears buds which give rise to the new plant.