Knowra Sporophyte Sporophyte The diploid, spore-producing generation in a plant or alga’s life cycle. It develops from a fertilized egg and alternates with the haploid gametophyte.
Alternation of generations : A life cycle alternating between multicellular haploid and diploid generations. The sporophyte is the diploid phase in this cycle, alternating with a gametophyte.
Haploid : Having one set of chromosomes in each cell. The haploid condition characterizes the gametophyte, in contrast to the sporophyte’s diploid cells.
Moss : A small, nonvascular land plant that reproduces by spores. In mosses, the sporophyte remains attached to and nutritionally dependent on the gametophyte.
Bryophyte : A nonvascular land plant group comprising mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Bryophyte sporophytes are generally less independent than those of vascular plants.
Meiosis : Cell division that halves chromosome number and produces genetically varied haploid cells. Sporophyte cells undergo meiosis to produce haploid spores.
Diploid : Having two sets of chromosomes in each cell. Diploidy defines the sporophyte’s chromosome complement.
Fern : A vascular plant that reproduces by spores and lacks seeds and flowers. The familiar leafy fern plant is its dominant, independent sporophyte.
Vascular plant : A plant with specialized tissues that transport water and dissolved substances. Vascular plants typically have large, independent sporophytes as their conspicuous generation.
Spore : A reproductive cell that can develop into an organism without fusing with another cell. Spores produced by the sporophyte grow into gametophytes.
Sporangium : A structure in which spores are produced, commonly by meiosis. Sporophytes bear sporangia, the sites of spore production.
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