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Plants have haploid and diploid phases in which the generation and alternation happen. The haploid phase of the plant is called the gametophyte and the diploid phase of the plant is known as the sporophyte. The sporophyte generates spore in the plants whereas the gametophyte generates the gametes in the plants. Read on to know more to know the topic.
Sporophyte
Sporophyte by the name means ‘spores’ for ‘sporo’ and the ‘phytate’ means the ‘plants’ . The plants which generate spores in the plants are known as the Sporophyte. The spore is a tiny structure that helps in the further germination of a new plant. The two types of cell divisions can easily lead to the formation of spores which is later known as mitotic spore and Meiotic spore. The mitotic spore is an asexual spore whereas the meiotic spores are the sexual spore.
Both the haploid and diploid multicellular stages are included in the life cycle of the alteration of the generation in the plants, it is mainly the conversion of gametophyte generation into the sporophyte generation and vice versa is also true.
Sporophytes are more prominent in the gymnosperm and the angiosperm as compared to the gametophyte. In the Alternation of generation, there are two multicellular stages which are haploid and diploid.
Gametophyte
The name suggests the word ‘gameto’ in the word gametophyte means gametes and the ‘phytate’ means ‘plants.’ Plants like bryophyte, gymnosperms, angiosperms, etc. undergo this. Algae produce the non-motile gamete inside the body of the plant. Bryophyta has antheridia and archegonia these are the sex organs that make the gametes. Similarly, the pteridophytes and gymnosperms, also consist of the archegonia. When pollen grains develop, angiosperms make the gametes in the plant bodies. The gametes are produced in the plants with the sex organs in them.
In simple words, the gametophyte is the sexual phase in the cycle of life of the algae and the plants.
Spirogyra generates the gametes in the algae and then later it gets transferred to another spirogyra through the conjunction. The gametophyte becomes the main food storage tissue in the seed.
Difference between the Sporophyte and the Gametophyte
The Difference between the Sporophyte and the Gametophyte stages in the plant’s life has been given below.
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SPOROPHYTES |
GAMETOPHYTES |
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Sporophytes result in the generation of spores in the plants. |
Gametophytes results in the formation of the gametes in the plants. |
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This reproduces asexually. |
They reproduce sexually. |
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It is used in the Meiosis process. |
This is used in the Mitosis process. |
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These are the set of diploid plants. |
These consist of haploid plants. |
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These have two sets of chromosomes |
This has a single set of chromosomes. |
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Fertilization of the gametes generates the sporophyte. |
The gametophyte is generated by the germination of the spore. |
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It is reduced in the pteridophyte. |
It dominants in the pteridophytes. |
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It is independent of the bryophytes. |
It depends on the gametophyte in the bryophyte. |
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The formation of haploid meiospores happens during meiosis. |
Gametes fuse and give rise to the diploid 2n zygote. |
Conclusion
In any plant’s life cycle generation is a very crucial stage, if the plant generates asexually then it is a sporophyte whereas if the plants generate sexually then it is called a gametophyte. Gametophyte generation is more in the algae and the bryophytes and on the other hand sporophytes are independent of the bryophytes. The distinction between the sporophyte and the gametophyte has been discussed above.
