Which one of the following is a correct statement? (a) Pteridophyte gametophyte has a protonemal and leafy stage. (b) In gymnosperms, female gametophyte is freeliving. (c) Antheridiophores and archegoniophores are present in pteridophytes. (d) Origin of seed habit can be traced in pteridophytes.
Option D.In majority of the pteridophytes all the spores are of similar kinds; such plants are called homosporous. Genera like Selaginella and Salvinia which produce two kinds of spores, macro (large) and micro (small) spores, are known as heterosporous. The megaspores and microspores germinate and give rise to female and male gametophytes, respectively. The female gametophytes in these plants are retained on the parent sporophytes for variable periods. The development of the zygotes into young embryos take place within the female gametophytes. This event is a precursor to the seed habit considered an important step in evolution.
