NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In many mosses the leaves around the male stem tip that encircle the antheridia form a ‘splash cup’. Sperm are released into rainwater or condensation that collects within the cup and are then splashed out when rain drops strike the water. In this way the sperm are carried to the archegonia on nearby plants.

Detailed explanation-2: -Some successfully end up on female gametophyte moss plants and are chemically attracted to the archegonium. Each archegonium holds one egg, in a swollen section called the venter. The sperm enter the archegonium through the narrow channel in its neck. Fertilization occurs in the archegonium to form a diploid zygote.

Detailed explanation-3: -Haploid spores germinate and grow into the haploid gametophyte generation. Gametophyte refers to the “gamete-making plant.” This generation produces the gametes (egg and sperm) by mitosis.

Detailed explanation-4: -Egg and sperm formation takes place in the leafy green moss plants (gametophytes). Spore formation and release takes place in the tiny, attached spore plants (sporophytes).

Detailed explanation-5: -Mosses need water for fertilization because they lack the pollen granules used by other types of plants to deliver sperm cells to ovules or the egg cells within the ovules.