Question

Compare the life cycles of moss vs. fern, explaining in detail alternation of generations, sporophyte, gametophyte, meiosis, fertilization, haploid and diploid, and how the plant moves to new locations.

Answer 1

Moss	Ferns
Alteration of generations: main plant body is haploid then comes the diploid.	Alteration of generation: Diploid Sporophyte is the main plant body
Sporophyte: Multicellular body formed after the fusion of antherozoids and egg. Derives its nutrition from photosynthetic gametophyte.	Sporophyte: Main plant body and is differentiated into true stem, roots and leaves. Sporophylls are present - leaf like appendages that have the sporangia in which sporophytes are present.
Gametophyte: Male sex organ called antheridium produce motile antherozoids and female sex organ called archegonium produces single non motile egg. Gametophyte is the main plant body which has certain root, stem and leaf like structures.	Gametophyte: Antherozoids and egg. Here the gametophyte is not the dominant phase.
Meiosis: after fertillisation zygote becomes a sporophyte having a foot, setae and a capsule. Capsule have spore which are formed by meiosis	Meiosis: after zygote formation meiosis occurs forming spores . Megaspores and microspores are formed. Megaspores give rise to female sex organs and Microspores give rise to male sex organs
Fertillisation: Male sex organ antheridium releases antherozoids in water from where they go to archegonium and fertillize the egg present in it.	Fertillisation: Antherozoids are released in water from where they go the the archgonia and fertillose the egg within it.
Haploid: Gametophyte- antherozoids and egg	Haploid: Gametophytic
Diploid: Sporophyte- spore formed in the zygote after meiosis	Diploid: Sporophytic

Mosses move to new location via water

Ferns can use both water and air for their dispersal.