Plant life cycle

A plant life cycle is the sequence of developmental stages linking one generation to the next, often alternating between multicellular haploid and diploid forms.

Alternation of generations: A life cycle alternating between multicellular haploid and diploid stages. This pattern organizes the sequence of stages in plants.
Spore: A reproductive cell that can develop into a new organism without fusing with another cell. Plant spores grow into gametophytes.
Bryophyte: A nonvascular land plant, such as a moss, liverwort, or hornwort. Its life cycle has a dominant gametophyte and dependent sporophyte.
Seed germination: The resumption of embryo growth from a seed under suitable conditions. It marks the transition from a dormant seed to a growing sporophyte.
Sporophyte: The diploid, spore-producing generation in a plant life cycle. It develops from the zygote and produces spores by meiosis.
Gamete: A haploid reproductive cell that fuses with another gamete during fertilization. Plant gametes unite to form the diploid zygote.
Fern: A seedless vascular plant that reproduces by spores. Its conspicuous sporophyte contrasts with its small, independent gametophyte.
Seed dormancy: A condition in which a viable seed delays germination until particular cues or conditions occur. Dormancy controls when a new generation begins growing.
Meiosis: Cell division that halves chromosome number to produce haploid cells. It generates spores that begin the haploid generation.
Zygote: The diploid cell formed by the fusion of two gametes. It is the first cell of a new sporophyte generation.

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