NEETBotanyPlant Kingdom
What happens to the female gametophytes in heterosporous plants?
Options
- AThey are released into the environment
- BThey are retained on the parent sporophytes
- CThey develop into male gametophytes
- DThey immediately produce zygotes
Correct answer
B. They are retained on the parent sporophytes
Step-by-step solution
Zygote thereafter produces a multicellular well-differentiated sporophyte which is the dominant phase of the pteridophytes. In the majority of the pteridophytes all the spores are of similar kinds; such plants are called homosporous. Genera like Selaginella and Salvinia which produce two kinds of spores, macro (large) and micro (small) spores, are known as heterosporous. The megaspores and microspores germinate and give rise to female and male gametophytes, respectively. The female gametophytes in these plants are