Chapter 36, Problem 1TY

Where would you look to find the gametophyte generation of a flowering plant?

1. a. at the shoot apical meristem
2. b. at the root apical meristem
3. c. in seeds
4. d. in flower parts
5. e. Flowering plants lack a gametophyte generation.

Summary Introduction

Introduction: The life cycle of plants is divided into the sporophytic and the gametophytic generations. In angiosperms, the dominant generation is the sporophytic generation. The gametophytic stage is haploid, while the sporophytic stage is diploid.

Answer to Problem 1TY

Correct answer: To find the gametophyte generation of a flowering plant, one would look in flower parts. Hence, the correct answer is option d.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for correct answer:

A dependent and highly reduced gametophytic stage is seen in angiosperms. This is represented by the male and female gametophytes of the plant. The male and female gametophytes produce gametes, and undergo sexual reproduction to produce the sporophytic stage of the plant. The male and female gametophytes are present inside the flower parts of the plant.

Option d. is given as “in flower parts”.

The gametophytic stage of a flowering plant is represented by the male and female gametophytes found in the flower of the plant. Hence, the correct answer is option d.

Reasons for incorrect answer:

Option a. is given as, “at the shoot apical meristem”.

The shoot apical meristem contains cells which divide continuously so that the plant grows along the shoot axis. Cells are added and differentiated in this region. These cells are diploid and they divide asexually. Cells of the shoot apical meristem are a part of the sporophytic generation of plants and not the gametophytic generation. Hence, option a. is incorrect.

Option b. is given as, “at the root apical meristem”.

The root apical meristem contains cells which divide continuously so that the plant grows along the root axis. These cells are diploid and they divide asexually. Cells of the root apical meristem are a part of the sporophytic generation of plants and not the gametophytic generation. Hence, option b. is incorrect.

Option c. is given as, “in seeds”.

Seeds are formed post fertilization, which means that the gametes have fused with each other to give a diploid seed. Seeds germinate to give rise to the sporophytic generation of the plant. Hence, option c. is incorrect.

Option e. is given as, “Flowering plants lack a gametophyte generation”.

Flowering plants have both sporophytic as well as a gametophytic stage. The sporophytic stage is diploid and it is the dominant stage. However, the gametophytic stage, represented by the male and female gametophytes is haploid. It is reduced and dependent on the sporophyte. Hence, option e. is incorrect.

Hence, the options a., b., c. and e. are incorrect.

Conclusion

Thus, one would find the gametophytic generation of a flowering plant in the flower parts.