HORTICULTURE

Detailed explanation-1: -Cones: The reproductive structures of gymnosperms. Female cones are larger. Meiosis produces megaspores (haploid), which will develop into female gametophytes, which are retained in the female cone. One of the cells of each female gametophyte develops as an egg.

Detailed explanation-2: -In gymnosperms, a leafy green sporophyte generates cones containing male and female gametophytes; female cones are bigger than male cones and are located higher up in the tree. A male cone contains microsporophylls where male gametophytes ( pollen ) are produced and are later carried by wind to female gametophytes.

Detailed explanation-3: -In gymnosperms, the gametophyte generation takes place in a cone, which forms on the mature sporophyte plant. Each male gametophyte is just a few cells inside a grain of pollen. Each female gametophyte produces an egg inside an ovule.

Detailed explanation-4: -The female gametophyte is contained within a structure called the archegonium.

Detailed explanation-5: -Strobilus or cone is the reproductive structure of gymnosperms. Both male and female strobili can be present on the same (seen in Pinus) or on different trees (seen in Cycas). Gymnosperm plants are heterosporous. They produce different spores, which are the haploid microspores and megaspores.