Option 2 is correct...As in equisitum gametophyte is independent....and the spores in slime moulds possesses true walls..

1. In Equisetum, the female gametophyte is retained on the parent sporophyte

- In the plant genus Equisetum, commonly known as horsetails, the female gametophyte is indeed retained on the parent sporophyte.
- This unique characteristic is known as "retained or persistent megagametophyte."
- The female gametophyte develops within a structure called the archegonium, which is located on the sporophyte plant.
- The archegonium contains the egg cell, which is fertilized by a sperm cell from the male gametophyte to initiate the formation of a new sporophyte generation.
- The retention of the female gametophyte on the parent sporophyte ensures protection and nourishment for the developing gametophyte and embryo.
- This is an adaptation that allows for efficient reproduction and survival in the environment where Equisetum plants grow.

2. In Ginkgo, the male gametophyte is not independent

- In Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as the ginkgo tree, the male gametophyte is not independent and relies on the parent sporophyte for its development and protection.
- The male gametophyte, also known as the pollen grain, develops within the male reproductive structure called the pollen cone or strobilus.
- The pollen grains contain the sperm cells, which are released during pollination to fertilize the egg cells present in the female reproductive structure.
- Unlike some other plants where the male gametophyte is released as a separate structure, in Ginkgo, the male gametophyte remains within the pollen cone until pollination occurs.
- Once the pollen grains are released and reach the female reproductive structure, fertilization can take place, leading to the formation of seeds.
- This dependence of the male gametophyte on the parent sporophyte ensures successful reproduction and dispersal of genetic material.

3. The spores of slime molds lack cell walls

- Slime molds are a group of organisms that belong to the kingdom Protista.
- Unlike plants and fungi, slime molds do not have cell walls made of cellulose or chitin.
- Instead, slime molds have a flexible cell membrane that surrounds their protoplasmic mass.
- The lack of cell walls allows slime molds to change their shape and move by extending pseudopods or amoeboid movement.
- This characteristic is particularly evident in the plasmodial slime molds, which form a large, multinucleate, and amoeboid mass during their life cycle.
- The absence of cell walls in slime molds also enables them to engulf and absorb organic material, such as decaying plant matter, bacteria, or fungi, as a food source.
- The protoplasmic streaming within the slime mold's cell membrane allows for efficient nutrient transport and distribution throughout the organism.
- Overall, the absence of cell walls in slime molds contributes to their unique characteristics and adaptability in their ecological niche.

In summary, the correct statement is that the spores of slime molds lack cell walls.