Question

What distinguishes gymnosperms from bryophytes and pteridophytes, with respect to reproduction?

• A. The male and female gametophytes are free-living in gymnosperms.
• B. The male and female gametophytes are not free-living in gymnosperms.
• C. The male and female gametophytes remain within the sporangia retained on sporophytes.
• D. Both bryophytes and pteridophytes have free living sporophytes while gymnosperms have a free living gameophyte.

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C)

The correct options are
B The male and female gametophytes are not free-living in gymnosperms.
C The male and female gametophytes remain within the sporangia retained on sporophytes.

Unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, in gymnosperms, the male and the female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes. Pteridophytes have a free-living, photosynthetic thalloid gametophyte called prothallus. In bryophytes, the main plant body of the bryophyte is haploid. It produces gametes, hence is called a gametophyte. Zygotes in bryophytes produce a multicellular sporophyte, that is not free-living but attached to the photosynthetic gametophyte and derives nourishment from it.