Question

In mosses, the archegonium and antheridium are _____ structures that produce _____.

1) haploid : spores
2) diploid : gametes
3) haploid : gametes
4) diploid : spores

Answer 1

In mosses, the archegonium and antheridium are haploid structures that produce gametes, culminating in the formation of a diploid sporophyte which then produces spores.

Step-by-step explanation:

In mosses, the archegonium and antheridium are haploid structures that produce gametes. The archegonium is the female organ that produces a single non-motile egg, while the antheridium is the male organ that produces numerous motile sperm. Following fertilization, the zygote develops into the diploid sporophyte, which emerges from the gametophyte and is responsible for producing spores.

Mosses undergo a lifecycle known as alternation of generations, where the familiar green gametophyte is the dominant phase. This phase is haploid, carrying only one set of chromosomes, and gives rise to the gametes. Upon fertilization, the sporophyte grows and forms a capsule, known as the sporangium, from which spores are released under favorable conditions, typically when it is dry so that they can be dispersed by wind.