What is the predominant stage of the moss life cycle?a) Sporophyte sta...
In the life cycle of a moss, the predominant stage is the gametophyte stage. This stage consists of two main stages: the protonema stage and the leafy stage. The protonema stage is the first stage, developing directly from a spore, while the leafy stage develops from the secondary protonema as a lateral bud. The gametophyte stage bears the sex organs and is crucial for the reproductive cycle of mosses.
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What is the predominant stage of the moss life cycle?a) Sporophyte sta...
Gametophyte stage
The predominant stage of the moss life cycle is the gametophyte stage. Mosses have a life cycle that alternates between a gametophyte stage and a sporophyte stage, with the gametophyte stage being the dominant and independent stage in the life cycle.
Explanation:
- Mosses start their life cycle from a haploid spore that germinates and grows into a small, filamentous structure called a protonema.
- The protonema stage eventually develops into a mature gametophyte, which is the predominant stage of the moss life cycle.
- The gametophyte is the green, leafy structure that we typically recognize as moss. It is responsible for producing male and female gametes through mitosis.
- Fertilization occurs when the sperm from the male gametophyte swims to the archegonium of the female gametophyte to form a diploid zygote.
- The zygote then develops into the sporophyte stage, which remains attached to the gametophyte and depends on it for nutrition.
- The sporophyte eventually produces spores through meiosis, which are released into the environment to start the cycle anew.
In conclusion, the gametophyte stage is the predominant stage of the moss life cycle because it is the independent, photosynthetic stage that carries out most of the functions of the plant.