Question

Distinguish between :
(a) Gametophyte and sporophyte
(b) Megasporophyll and microsporophyll
(c) Antheridia and archegonia
(d) Liverworts and mosses

Answer 1

Gametophyte	Sporophyte
It is haploid phase in life cycle.	It is diploid phase in life cycle.
It forms gametes.	It forms spores.
Gamete takes part in fertilization to form diploid zygote.	Diploid spore mother cell undergoes meiosis to form haploid meiospores.
Growth of zygote produces sporophyte.	Growth of meiospore produces gametophyte.

Megasporophyll	Microsporophyll
It bears megasporangia.	It bears microsporangia.
It bears one functional megaspore.	It contains numerous microspores.
In angiosperm, the megasporophyll is rolled to produce a carpel.	In angiosperms, the microsporophyll is modified into stamen.

Antheridia	Archeognia
Antheridia are round-shaped.	Archegonia are flask-shaped.
They are male organs of bryophytes and pteridophytes.	They are female organs of bryophytes, pteridophytes and gymnosperms.
It forms a large number of male gametes.	It encloses a single female gamete.

Liverworts	Mosses
Gametophytic plant body may be thallose or foliose.	Gametophytic plant body is differentiated into prostrate, protonema and gametophore.
Stomata and chlorophyll are absent.	Stomata and chlorophyll are present for exchange of gases.
Dehiscence of capsule is irregular.	Dehiscence of capsule is regular.
Example: Riccia.	Example: Funaria.