AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Meiosis within the capsule of the sporophyte yields haploid spores that are released and eventually germinate to form a male or female gametophyte.

Detailed explanation-2: -Spores are released into the wind. If those spores happen to land somewhere suitable, they will grow into what is called a gametophyte, and that is a whole separate individual plant.

Detailed explanation-3: -The sporophyte produces spores by meiosis. The spores grow into gametophytes. The gametophytes produce gametes (eggs and sperm). Fusion of gametes (fertilization) produces a zygote.

Detailed explanation-4: -The primary function of sporophytes is to produce spores. The spores are diploid (2n) and are produced by the process of mitosis. The spores possess all the genetic information for the functioning of a mature plant and the capability to carry out asexual reproduction.

Detailed explanation-5: -The sporophyte produces spores (hence the name) by meiosis, a process also known as “reduction division” that reduces the number of chromosomes in each spore mother cell by half. The resulting meiospores develop into a gametophyte.