Fern prothallus is homothallic, bearing both antheridia and archegonia in the lower surface of the prothallus

Fern prothallus is homothallic.


A fern prothallus is a small, heart-shaped structure that develops from a fern spore. It is the gametophyte stage of the fern life cycle. The prothallus is responsible for producing the gametes (eggs and sperm) that will eventually fuse to form the sporophyte stage of the fern.

Homothallic:
Homothallic refers to the ability of an organism to self-fertilize. In the case of fern prothalli, homothallic means that a single prothallus is capable of producing both male and female gametes, allowing it to self-fertilize.


- Fern prothalli are homothallic.
- Homothallic means the ability to self-fertilize.
- A single prothallus can produce both male and female gametes.
- Self-fertilization can occur within a single prothallus.


Homothallism in fern prothalli allows them to reproduce successfully even when there is a lack of other prothalli nearby. This is especially important in environments where fern populations are sparse or isolated.

By being able to self-fertilize, a single prothallus can produce offspring without the need for another prothallus. This increases the chances of successful reproduction and ensures the survival of the fern species even in unfavorable conditions.


- Heterothallic: Heterothallic refers to the condition where two different individuals are required for fertilization to occur. This is not the case for fern prothalli as they are homothallic.
- Heteromorphic: Heteromorphic refers to the condition where two different forms or structures are present in a species. It does not specifically describe the reproductive behavior of fern prothalli.
- Heterotrophic: Heterotrophic refers to the ability of an organism to obtain nutrients from external sources. Fern prothalli are photosynthetic and capable of producing their own food through photosynthesis, so they are not heterotrophic.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - Fern prothallus is homothallic.