Question

Prothallial cells in the male gametophyte of Selaginella are/is

• A. 1
• B. 2
• C. 4
• D. 8

Answer 1

The correct option is A 1

• The sporangia produce spores by meiosis in spore mother cells. The spores germinate to give rise to inconspicuous, small but multicellular. free-living, mostly photosynthetic thalloid gametophytes called prothallus.
• These gametophytes bear male and female sex organs called antheridia and archegonia, respectively.
• The microspore germinates to form the male gametophyte.
• The first unequal division (1-1) in a microspore results in the formation of a small lenticular prothallial cell (vegetative cell) and a large antheridial initial. The prothallial cell does not divide further.
• Hence, prothallial cells in the male gametophyte of Selaginella is 1.
• So, the correct answer is '1'.