A gemma is isolated from the gemma cup of a male thallus of Marchantia and allowed to germinate on a suitable substratum. Which of the following plant bodies will develop from it?

Step-by-step solution

Gemmae are green, multicellular, asexual buds that develop in gemma cups on the thalli of liverworts like Marchantia. Since they are asexual structures produced by mitosis, they are genetically identical to the parent plant. Marchantia is a dioecious bryophyte, meaning male and female sex organs are borne on separate thalli. Therefore, a gemma originating from a haploid male thallus will germinate to form a clone of the parent, which is a haploid male thallus that will eventually bear antheridiophores. It will not