Is Marchantia a sporophyte or gametophyte?
Marchantia undergoes the alternation of generations typical of land plants. Thus, through its life cycle, a multicellular haploid gametophyte generation alternates with a multicellular diploid sporophyte generation.
What is the gametophyte of Marchantia?
The gametophyte generation consists of the haploid thallus and is the dominant generation; it develops from a germinating spore. Sperm from the male reproductive organ (antheridium) travel through an aqueous environment to fertilize the eggs that are still retained in the female reproductive organ (archegonium).
What is the sporophyte of Marchantia?
These mature sporophytes are the asexual reproductive form for the Marchantia order of Bryophytes, moss-like plants of the division Bryophyta, also known as liverworts, or “liver plants.” The thallus, part of the plants’ anatomy, has the appearance of a lobed liver, which gave rise to the name.
Where is the sporophyte generation in Marchantia?
The sporophyte generation develops from this diploid embryo and forms a sporangium at its apex. Spores are released when the sporangium ruptures, marking the start of a new gametophytic generation. Egg-producing archegonia of a common liverwort plant (Marchantia polymorpha).
How do Sporophytes grow in Marchantia?
This diploid sporophyte is entirely dependent of the haploid gametophyte that surrounds it. After meiosis, haploid spores are formed inside the sporangium. When the cap of the sporangium opens these haploid spores are spread and they can grow into a new gametophyte.
What is sporophyte describe the structure of mature sporophyte of Marchantia?
The mature sporophyte of Marchantia (Fig. 6.18A) is differentiated into three parts — foot, seta and capsule. (a) Foot: It is an expanded bulbous mass of cells at the base of the sporogonium, serves as an absorbing and anchoring organ. It absorbs nutrients from the gametophyte.
What is absent in the sporophyte of Marchantia?
Solution : Foot, seta and central sterile portion of theca is called columella found in Funaria. Elaters are absent in Funaria. Sphognum, Polytrichum, Riccia, etc. they are the characteristic features of Marchantia.
How do sporophytes grow in Marchantia?
What is the life cycle of Marchantia?
The life cycle of Marchantia is haplodiplontic. Both the haploid and diploid phases are represented by multicellular structures. The main free-living plant body is the gametophyte (haploid). The short-lived sporophyte (diploid) stage is dependent on the gametophyte for anchorage and nourishment.
Are gametophyte of Marchantia unisexual?
This is characterized by the production of two different types of spores, microspores that develop into unisexual male gametophytes, and megaspores which become unisexual female gametophytes.
What are the male and female gametophytes in Marchantia SP called?
The gametophyte produces structures known as antheridia and archegonia, which produce the male and female gametes respectively. Collectively these structures are known as gametangia.