NEETBotanyPlant Kingdom
Which of the following statements correctly distinguishes Pinus from Dryopteris?
Options
- AIn Pinus, the gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence, whereas in Dryopteris, the gameto
- BPinus possesses well-developed vascular tissues, whereas Dryopteris lacks xylem and phloem.
- CIn Pinus, the gametophyte is independent and photosynthetic, whereas in Dryopteris, it is strictly dependent o
- DBoth Pinus and Dryopteris produce highly reduced gametophytes that are permanently retained within the sporang
Correct answer
A. In Pinus, the gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence, whereas in Dryopteris, the gameto
Step-by-step solution
Dryopteris is a pteridophyte, while Pinus is a gymnosperm. In pteridophytes like Dryopteris, the spores germinate to form a small, multicellular, free-living, and mostly photosynthetic thalloid gametophyte called a prothallus. In gymnosperms like Pinus, the male and female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophyte. Both Pinus and Dryopteris are vascular plants, meaning they both possess xylem and phloem. Thus, the correct distinguishin