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Compared with the gametophytes of the bryophytes, the gametophytes of vascular plants tend to be
A
Smaller and to have smaller sex organs
B
Smaller but to have larger sex organs
C
Larger but to have smaller sex organs
D
Larger and to have larger sex organs
Detailed Solution
In bryophytes the gametophyte is the dominant, long-lived, green and independent phase of the life cycle, and it bears conspicuous multicellular antheridia and archegonia.
In vascular plants the sporophyte is the dominant phase and the gametophyte is progressively reduced.
In pteridophytes it is a small, short-lived prothallus; in gymnosperms and angiosperms it is reduced to a few cells (pollen grain and embryo sac) dependent on the sporophyte.
The sex organs are also reduced: archegonia are small in pteridophytes and gymnosperms and are absent in angiosperms, and antheridia are absent in seed plants.
Hence the gametophytes of vascular plants are smaller and have smaller sex organs.
In vascular plants the sporophyte is the dominant phase and the gametophyte is progressively reduced.
In pteridophytes it is a small, short-lived prothallus; in gymnosperms and angiosperms it is reduced to a few cells (pollen grain and embryo sac) dependent on the sporophyte.
The sex organs are also reduced: archegonia are small in pteridophytes and gymnosperms and are absent in angiosperms, and antheridia are absent in seed plants.
Hence the gametophytes of vascular plants are smaller and have smaller sex organs.