Both homospory and heterospory are characteristics of vascular seed and seedless plants
True
False
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: True
Explanation (300 words):
Vascular plants, which are plants with specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) for conducting water and nutrients, can exhibit either homospory or heterospory, depending on the group. Both of these characteristics are found across different types of vascular plants, including both seedless and seed-bearing species.
Homospory:
This is the production of only one type of spore, which usually develops into a bisexual (hermaphroditic) gametophyte capable of producing both eggs and sperm. Most seedless vascular plants, such as ferns and club mosses (Lycopodium), are homosporous. These plants do not produce seeds and rely on spores for reproduction.
Heterospory:
This refers to the production of two distinct types of spores:
- Microspores, which develop into male gametophytes (pollen grains in seed plants).
- Megaspores, which develop into female gametophytes (ovules in seed plants).
Heterospory evolved later and is seen in some seedless vascular plants like Selaginella and Isoetes, and in all seed plants (both gymnosperms and angiosperms). The development of heterospory is considered an important evolutionary step toward the development of seeds.
Why the Answer is True:
Since homospory is found in seedless vascular plants and heterospory occurs in both some seedless vascular plants and all seed plants, both forms are characteristics observed within the broader group of vascular plants, regardless of whether they produce seeds.
In summary, both homospory and heterospory are reproductive strategies seen in vascular plants, with homospory being typical of simpler, older lineages and heterospory representing a more advanced evolutionary adaptation associated with the seed habit.
Hence, the statement is True.