The heterosporous pteridophytes area)Lycopodium and Pterisb)Selaginell...
The correct answer is option 'B': Selaginella and Salvinia.
Heterospory is a characteristic found in certain groups of plants where they produce two different types of spores, namely megaspores and microspores. These spores develop into female and male gametophytes, respectively. Heterospory is seen in some pteridophytes and all seed plants.
Let's discuss each option and identify the correct one:
a) Lycopodium and Pteris:
Lycopodium is a genus of clubmosses that is homosporous, meaning it produces only one type of spore. Pteris, on the other hand, is a genus of ferns that is also homosporous.
b) Selaginella and Salvinia:
Selaginella is a genus of spikemosses, and Salvinia is a genus of floating ferns. Both Selaginella and Salvinia are heterosporous, making this option the correct answer.
c) Selaginella and Psilotum:
Selaginella is heterosporous, as mentioned above. Psilotum, commonly known as whisk fern, is homosporous, producing only one type of spore. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
d) Dryopteris and Adiantum:
Both Dryopteris and Adiantum are genera of ferns that are homosporous, producing only one type of spore. Thus, this option is incorrect.
In conclusion, the correct answer is option 'B': Selaginella and Salvinia. These two genera of plants exhibit heterospory, producing both megaspores and microspores.
The heterosporous pteridophytes area)Lycopodium and Pterisb)Selaginell...
Heterospory is the production of spores of two different sizes and of two different developmental patterns - smaller male or microspores and larger female or megaspores. Heterospory is the most important evolutionary development in the vascular plants because it has ultimately led to seed development, e.g., Selaginella, Salvinia, Azolla, etc.
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