EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -A sporophyte is a diploid multicellular stage in the life cycle of plant including Pteridophytes which develops from the zygote produced when a haploid egg cell is fertilized by a haploid sperm and each sporophyte cell therefore has a double set of chromosomes. Hence option A is correct.

Detailed explanation-2: -The main plant body of pteridophytes is a diploid (2n) sporophyte which is well-differentiated into roots, stems and leaves.

Detailed explanation-3: -Reason: Sporophyte is the dominant phase in life cycle of pteridophytes.

Detailed explanation-4: -During the course of evolution, the sporophyte stage has become progressively increased. Thus, in the higher (i.e., vascular) plants the sporophyte is the dominant phase in the life cycle, whereas in the more primitive nonvascular plants (bryophytes) the gametophyte remains dominant.

Detailed explanation-5: -Pteridophytes (ferns and lycophytes) are free-sporing vascular plants that have a life cycle with alternating, free-living gametophyte and sporophyte phases that are independent at maturity. The body of the sporophyte is well differentiated into roots, stem and leaves.