Question

Given is a picture of bryophyte. The correct ploidy levels of the indicated structures are

• A. (1):2n; (2):n; (3):n
• B. (1):n; (2):n; (3):n
• C. (1):2n; (2):2n; (3):2n
• D. (1):2n; (2):n; (3):2n

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Bryophyta members are called the amphibians of the plant kingdom. The following are the salient features of this group:
I. The main plant body is gametophytic and haploid. This plant body is divided into rhizoids, stem-like structure, and leaf-like appendages in mosses. In liverworts, the gametophyte is thalloid and often dorso-ventrally flattened. This means, in the figure, the 3, which is rhizoids, are haploid.
II. The gametes are produced inside the gametangia. The antherridium and the archaegonium are, respectively, male and female gametangia. They are also haploid.
III. The gametic fusion results in the formation diploid sporophyes. These are partially parasitic on the gametophyte. The sporophyte in the figure is diploid.