Question

Spore producing sori are located on the under surface of leaves of

• A. Monocot sporophytes
• B. Fern sporophyte
• C. Liverwort gametophyte
• D. Fern gametophyte

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Fern sporophyte

A sorus is a cluster of sporangia in ferns and fungi.In fungi and lichens, the sorus is surrounded by an external layer. In some red algae, it may take the form of a depression into the thallus.
In ferns, these form a yellowish or brownish mass on the edge or underside of a fertile frond. In some species, they are protected during development by a scale or film of tissue called the indusium, which forms an umbrella-like cover.
Sori occur on the sporophyte generation, the sporangia within producing haploid meiospores. As the sporangia mature, the indusium shrivels so that spore release is unimpeded. The sporangia then burst and release the spores.
The shape, arrangement, and location of the sori are often valuable clues in the identification of fern taxa. Sori may be circular or linear.