EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -In terms of chromosomes, the gametophyte is haploid (has a single set of chromosomes), and the sporophyte is diploid (has a double set). In bryophytes, such as mosses and liverworts, the gametophyte is the dominant life phase, whereas in angiosperms and gymnosperms the sporophyte is dominant.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gametes develop in the multicellular haploid gametophyte (from the Greek phyton, “plant”). Fertilization gives rise to a multicellular diploid sporophyte, which produces haploid spores via meiosis.

Detailed explanation-3: -Pollen grains represent the highly reduced haploid male gametophyte generation in flowering plants, consisting of just two or three cells when released from the anthers. Their role is to deliver twin sperm cells to the embryo sac to undergo fusion with the egg and central cell.

Detailed explanation-4: -Ferns and horsetails have two free-living generations: a diploid sporophyte generation (spore-producing plant) and. a haploid gametophyte generation (gamete-producing plant).

Detailed explanation-5: -In vascular plants the dominant stage of this lifecycle is the diploid generation. In mosses, the dominant stage is the haploid generation (the gametophyte). This means that the green, leafy gametophytic tissue is haploid (has only one set of chromosomes).