EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Heterospory i.e., formation of two types of spores – microspores and megaspores is a characteristic feature in the life cycle of a few members of pteridophytes and all spermatophytes.

Detailed explanation-2: -Heterospory is a phenomenon in which two kinds of spores are borne by the same plant. These spores differ in size. The smaller one is known as microspore and the larger one is known as megaspore. The microspore germinates to form the male gametophyte and the megaspore germinates to form the female gametophyte.

Detailed explanation-3: -In extant taxa at least, endosporic heterospory results in strict gametophyte unisexuality based on spore size, thus allowing the parent sporophyte to dictate both sex expression and resource allocation to offspring (Bateman and DiMichele Reference Bateman and DiMichele1994).

Detailed explanation-4: -Heterosporous plants, similar to anisosporic plants, produce two different sized spores in separate sporangia that develop into separate male and female gametophytes.