In: Biology
EVERY species of green plant undergoes alternation of generations. In land plants, the generations look dissimilar. In what other ways are the sporophyte and gametophyte generations dissimilar? List two examples.
In the green plants, the alternation of generation is due to the alternation in diploid and haploid generations. In a plants life, the diploid and haploid generations take place alternatively out of which the diploid generation is called sporophytic generation and the haploid generation is called gametophytic generation. The sporophytic generation produces spores through meiosis and the gametophytic generation produces gametes through mitosis. the examples of plants showing the alternation of generation are:
The fern: the diploid generation of fern has large leafy body. The cells are diploid so that the cells had to undergo meiosis to create haploid cells which are then called as spores. These spores got shed and they can swim to reach to the other plants spores.
The haploid generation of ferns has haploid cells. They divide by mitosis division. The cells formed by mitotic division are called gametes ( male or female). These gametes got fused to create diploid sporophyte and complete the generation cycle.
The mosses: the gametophyte generation of of mosses is in the form of lush carpet. The lush is spreaded on the ground and needs moist environment so that the gametes can swim to reach to the other gamete for fertilization.
The sporophyte generation of the mosses is in the form of thin stalk which is attached to the gametophyte for its nutrition supply. The spores formed by meiosis got released into the air and move with the air flow as they are lighter in weight.