Gametophyte, in plants and certain algae, the sexual phase (or an individual representing the phase) in the alternation of generations—a phenomenon in which two distinct phases occur in the life history of the organism, each phase producing the other. The nonsexual phase is the sporophyte.
What is a Sporophyte and why is it important?
The basic function of the sporophyte is to create spores – that much is known already. The spores, in turn, produce the gametophytes that give rise to the male and female gametes through the process of meiosis. Meiosis is the type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in half.
How Sporophyte is formed?
A sporophyte is created by sexual reproduction of the gametophyte generation. Gametophytes make haploid unicellular gametes, or sperm and eggs. When a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, this is called fertilization. It creates a unicellular diploid zygote.
Which life cycle is found in plants but not animals?
meiosis
Is a seed a gametophyte or Sporophyte?
Unlike bryophyte and fern spores (which are haploid cells dependent on moisture for rapid development of gametophytes), seeds contain a diploid embryo that will germinate into a sporophyte.
Which came first seed or plant?
Spores contain a single cell, whereas a seed contains a multicellular, fertilised embryo that is protected from drying out by a tough coat. These extra features took another 150 million years to evolve, whereupon the first seed-bearing plants emerged. So plants came first, by a long way.
How do we classify vascular plants?
Vascular plants are grouped according to how they reproduce. Specifically, the various types of vascular plants are classified by whether they produce spores or seeds to make new plants. Seed producers: Vascular plants that reproduce by seed are further divided into the gymnosperms and angiosperms.