Given below are two statements : Statement I : In gymnosperms, the male and female gametophytes remain within the sporangia. Statement II : In gymnosperms, seeds are not covered. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

Step-by-step solution

In gymnosperms, unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, the male and female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes. Thus, Statement I is correct. The term gymnosperm literally means naked seeds (gymnos = naked, sperma = seeds). In these plants, the ovules are not enclosed by any ovary wall and remain exposed both before and after fertilization. The seeds that develop post-fertilization are not covered. Thus, Statement II is also corre