Alternation of Generations in Plants — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptLife cycle of plants has two distinct phases – the diploid sporophytic and the haploid gametophytic – that alternate with each other. The lengths of the haploid and diploid phases, and whether these phases are free–living or dependent on others, vary among different groups in plants. This phenomenon is called alternation of generations. You will study further details of this kingdom in Chapter 3.
Assertion (A): Plant life cycles involve alternation between two distinct phases. Reason (R): The sporophytic phase is haploid while the gametophytic phase is diploid.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — If assertion is true but reason is false.
NCERT confirms plant life cycles have alternating phases (Assertion true). However, NCERT states “Life cycle of plants has two distinct phases – the diploid sporophytic and the haploid gametophytic – that alternate with each other.” The Reason swaps the ploidy levels - sporophytic phase is diploid (not haploid) and gametophytic phase is haploid (not diploid). This ploidy reversal creates a highly confusing false statement.
What does NCERT say about Life cycle plants has?
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Which chapter is this from?
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 88 of 90 questions from the NEET 2026 paper were matched straight from the MedicNEET Biology question bank.
88/90MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.