Question

The plant body of moss (Funaria) is

• A. completely sporophyte
• B. predominantly gametophyte with sporophyte
• C. completely gametophyte
• D. predominantly sporophyte with gametophyte.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The question asks about the plant body of moss, specifically referring to Funaria, which is a genus belonging to the division Bryophyta. To answer this question, it's important to understand the life cycle and anatomy of mosses.

Mosses are non-vascular plants characterized by a life cycle that prominently features an alternation of generations. This means they have two distinct forms in their life cycle: the gametophyte and the sporophyte. Here is a breakdown of each:

• Gametophyte Stage: This is the dominant phase in the life cycle of mosses, including Funaria. The gametophyte is the green, leafy structure that is typically seen and is photosynthetic. It is responsible for producing the sex organs: the antheridia (male) and archegonia (female).
• Sporophyte Stage: This phase is dependent on the gametophyte and develops from the fertilized egg (zygote) retained within the female archegonium. The sporophyte consists of a stalk (seta) and a capsule where spores are produced. It is generally smaller and non-photosynthetic, relying on the gametophyte for nutrition.

Given these explanations, the plant body of moss is predominantly gametophyte with the sporophyte being a smaller, dependent structure. Therefore, the correct answer is:

• Predominantly gametophyte with sporophyte

The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:

• Completely sporophyte: This is incorrect because the sporophyte in mosses is always dependent on the gametophyte.
• Completely gametophyte: This option ignores the presence of the sporophyte stage, which is present, though not free-living.
• Predominantly sporophyte with gametophyte: This is incorrect because the sporophyte is not the dominant phase in mosses.