[Biology Class Notes] on Difference Between Sporophyte and Gametophyte Pdf

The gameto means gametes and phytate means plants. The generation of planets that form gametes is called gametophytes. Plants produce gametes with the help of their sex organs. Every plant such as bryophyte, angiosperms, gymnosperms, algae, etc. goes through this. For example, algae produce simple and non-motile gametes inside its body. Spirogyra produces gametes inside their bodies and transfers gametes to another spirogyra through conjugation. 

Bryophyta has antheridia and archegonia which are sex organs to make gametes. Similarly, pteridophytes and gymnosperms also consist of archegonia which are developed in different manners. Angiosperms make gametes when pollen grain development takes place. Thus, the gametophyte generation is experienced by most of these plants. 

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What is Sporophyte? 

Sporo means spores and phytate means plants. The generation of plants that produce spores is called sporophytes. Algae, bryophytes, angiosperms, and gymnosperms make spores. A spore is a tiny structure that leads to a new plant after its germination. Spores can be of two types, namely mitotic spore and meiotic spore. Mitosis and meiosis are types of cell divisions that lead to the formation of these spores. Mitotic spores are asexual spores and meiotic spores are called sexual spores. 

Sporophyte can make both kinds of spores; algae is a simplified organism and forms mitotic or asexual spores, similarly, Chlamydomonas also form asexual spores. Bryophytes from meiotic or sexual spores, homosporous pteridophytes form the same size of spores from spore mother cell and heterosporous pteridophytes form two different kinds of spores, namely microspore from microspore mother cell and megaspore from the megaspore mother cell. Similarly, heterosporous gymnosperms and angiosperms from their spores.

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Alternation of Generation

Alternation of generations is a life cycle that includes both haploid and diploid multicellular stages. It is divided into two parts N haploid and 2n diploid. It was discovered by Strasburger. It is the conversion of gametophyte generation into sporophyte generation and vice versa.

 

Diploid means two sets of chromosomes (2n), one set of chromosomes from male parents, and another set of chromosomes from female parents. On the other hand, a haploid means one set of chromosomes (n) (that carry genetic information). Multicellular contains more than one cell and unicellular is containing only one cell. In plants, the lifecycle is completed by multicellular haploid cells whereas, in humans, it is undergone through unicellular haploid cells.

 

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Difference between Sporophyte and Gametophyte

Below is a tabular representation highlighting some of the differences between the sporophyte and gametophyte stages of the plant life cycle.

 

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Summary

In the life cycle of plants, generation change is a common occurrence. As a result, the life cycle is divided into two different phases: asexual and sexual. The sporophyte generation is represented by the asexual phase, while the gametophyte generation is represented by the sexual phase. Furthermore, sporophytes are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes. Gametophytes, on the other hand, are haploid and have only one set of chromosomes. This is the most important distinction between sporophyte and gametophyte. Additionally, although the sporophyte generates haploid spores, the gametophyte produces male and female gametes. Gametophyte generation is dominant in bryophytes and algae, whereas gametophyte generation is dominating in pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. The distinction between sporophyte and gametophyte is thus summarised.