question_answer 37)

    Gametophyte is a dominant phase in the life cycle of a bryophyte. Explain.

Answer:

                  Gametophyte is a haploid multicellular adult stage in a bryophyte's life cycle. It bears male reproductive structure (antheridia) and female reproductive structure called archegonia ,and thus produce haploid gametes antherozoids (male gamete) and egg cell (female gamete) respectively. In mosses, liverworts and hornworts the gametophyte is a dominant form and thus most familiar phase of life cycle of the bryophyte. The moss gametophyte originate from a haploidspore, Initial phase of growth forms protonema in moss. The protonema further develops into a main plant body of bryophyte which is thallus like prostrate and erect, attached to substratum by unicellular or multicellular rhizoids. They may possess root like, leaf like or stem like structures.