Chapter 23, Problem 9A

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Advantages and disadvantages of the moss sporophyte growing on the gametophyte.

Introduction:

A gametophyte is one of the phases in the plants and algae life cycle. It develops from a haploid spore and hence has only one set of chromosomes. Gametophyte is basically the sexual phase in plants and algae life cycle.

Explanation of Solution

The sporophyte is dependent on gametophyte generation. Sporophyte gets nourishment from gametophyte, as it is capable of photosynthesis. Non-vascular sporophytes cannot make their own food from photosynthesis, so they use food formed by gametophytes. There are advantages and disadvantages of the same.

Advantages − The main advantage is that sporophyte gets its nutrition for growth from gametophyte. Gametophyte makes energy and food from photosynthesis. Moreover, gametophyte acts as support for sporophyte.

Disadvantages − The only drawback for sporophyte is that it is completely dependent on gametophyte. If gametophyte dies or is removed from its location, then sporophyte cannot survive at all.