Question

Which is the dominant phase in pteridophytes?

Answer 1

Alternation of generation:

1. When any organism follows sexual and asexual stages of reproduction throughout its life span alternating from one phase to another, this phenomenon is referred to as Alternation of generation.
2. The asexual stage is referred to as the Sporophytic stage where spores are produced.
3. The sexual stage is referred to as the Gametophytic stage, where gametes (male and female) are produced.
4. Spores are diploid whereas gametes are haploid.
5. As all vascular plants have long-lived Sporophytic generations, they have Dominant Sporophyte generation.
6. Pteridophytes are also vascular plants that live in the diploid Sporophyte stage for most of their life span and this Sporophytic generation gives rise to gametophytic generation.
7. Diploid Sporophytic generation is dominant in gymnosperms.