Question

Which of the following stages of Funaria is haploid?
A. Gametophyte
B. Sporophyte
C. Both A and B
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Haploid number of chromosomes is contained in the gametes. The Gametophyte stage of Funaria is haploid. Funaria contains more than 100 species and most of them are cosmopolitan in nature. It forms velvety like patches on moist ground, tree trunks and rocks. Most species of Funaria are called mosses. Two types of life cycle present in Funaria are sexual life cycle and vegetative life cycle.

Complete answer:
The life cycle of Funaria is haplo-diplontic. In the life cycle of funaria the free living haploid gametophyte alternates with a semiparametric diploid sporogonium or the sporophyte. In this type alternation of generations is called heteromorphic alternation or heterologous alternation of generations. In Funaria the main plant body is free-living gametophyte which is haploid in nature which exists in two different forms: protonema which is also known as juvenile gametophyte and leafy gametophyte which is also known as adult gametophyte.
Certain small hair like structures are there which we call as rhizoids and are responsible for anchorage of the Funaria and also absorption. Fertilization and formation of zygote happens in the water and as the male gamete travels up to the female gamete and both the haploid cells fuse to make a new zygote that is diploid in nature.

Note:
Bryophytes are dependent upon water for their entire life processes. All activities are maintained by the bryophytes through water. So it has no vascular tissues, as it lies under water for the whole year. It depends upon water for reproduction, nutrition and all other physiological processes that it needs.