Question

The first vascular plants were:
A. Algae
B. Bryophytes
C. Pteridophytes
D. Angiosperms

Answer 1

Hint:- Think about the Bryophytes and Gymnosperms, their adaptations and specialty. What you miss in between must have been evolved in pteridophytes.

Complete step-by-step solution:- Evolution is a slow and gradual process. By the course of evolution, Thallophytes are the most primitive amongst plant kingdoms.
Bryophytes are the simplest plants without vascular bundles so they are completely dependent on water rich areas for growth and reproduction. Pteridophytes have better adaptability than bryophytes and the crucial amongst them is having vasculature and this is the reason that Pteridophytes are also known as vascular cryptogams.
Pteridophytes are vascular plants that are xylem and phloem are present in it. In pteridophytes, vessels in xylem and companion cells in phloem are absent.
Pteridophytes are more adapted terrestrial plants as compared to bryophytes because vascular tissue is present in pteridophytes. They have roots, stems and leaves.
Pteridophytes are not completely successful Terrestrial plants because they need water for fertilization so their growth is limited in the cool, shady and moist places.
In pteridophytes the plant body is completely differentiated into root, stem and leaf. The dominant phase in the life cycle of pteridophytes is sporophytic phase. Their life cycle is diplo-haplontic type.
The unique character of the life cycle of pteridophytes is: independent alternation of generation that is sporophyte and gametophyte are independent of each other.
The gametophytic phase in pteridophytes is represented by prothallus. Prothallus is made up of thallus and rhizoids. It is non-vascular.
So, the correct option is(c)Pteridophytes.

Note:- - In Plant Kingdom, gametophyte is always non vascular.
- Pteridophytes are known as reptiles of the Plant Kingdom.