HORTICULTURE

Detailed explanation-1: -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). The gametophyte refers to all organs and tissues that are a part of the haploid generation.

Detailed explanation-2: -Over the course of evolution, the gametophyte stage has become progressively reduced. Thus, the gametophyte stage is dominant in the more primitive (nonvascular) plants (bryophytes), whereas the sporophyte is the dominant phase in the life cycle of higher (i.e., vascular) plants.

Detailed explanation-3: -In the most primitive plants, like mosses, the gametophyte is dominant (i.e. it’s big and green). In higher plants like ferns and fern allies, the sporophyte stage is dominant.

Detailed explanation-4: -In bryophytes, including mosses, the dominating generation is the haploid gametophyte and the sporophyte is a reduced structure, which is completely dependent on the gametophyte (Figure 1).

Detailed explanation-5: -So the leafy-stemmed part is the gametophyte in the great majority of species. It now becomes clear why that fact is often generalized to the statement that the gametophyte in all mosses is leafy-stemmed.