Gymnosperm Strobili and Reproductive Structures — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2017The gymnosperms are heterosporous; they produce haploid microspores and megaspores. The two kinds of spores are produced within sporangia that are borne on sporophylls which are arranged spirally along an axis to form lax or compact strobili or cones. The strobili bearing microsporophylls and microsporangia are called microsporangiate or male strobili. The microspores develop into a male gametophytic generation which is highly reduced and is confined to only a limited number of cells. This reduced gametophyte is called a pollen grain. The development of pollen grains take place within the microsporangia. The cones bearing megasporophylls with ovules or megasporangia are called macrosporangiate or female strobili. The male or female cones or strobili may be borne on the same tree (Pinus). However, in cycas male cones and megasporophylls are borne on different trees. The megaspore mother cell is differentiated from one of the cells of the nucellus. The nucellus is protected by envelopes and the composite structure is called an ovule. The ovules are borne on megasporophylls which may be clustered to form the female cones. The megaspore mother cell divides meiotically to form four megaspores. One of the megaspores enclosed within the megasporangium develops into a multicellular female gametophyte that bears two or more archegonia or female sex organs. The multicellular female gametophyte is also retained within megasporangium.
NTA tests whether students understand that gymnosperms produce two types of cones: male (microsporangiate) and female (macrosporangiate), and that a single tree can bear both types, making it monoecious. Students often confuse the arrangement of microsporophylls, megasporophylls, and the sporangia they contain, leading to errors in distinguishing male from female cones. The key point: male cones produce microspores that develop into pollen grains, while female cones contain ovules with megaspores that develop into female gametophytes. Remember that both gametophytes are highly reduced and retained in their respective sporangia—this retention is crucial for gymnosperm reproduction strategy.
This paragraph was tested 2 times in NEET.
Select the mismatch. (NEET 2017)
Match the plant with the kind of life cycle it exhibits: Column I (Plant) A. Spirogyra B. Fern C. Funaria D. Cycas Column II (Life cycle type) i. Dominant diploid sporophyte vascular plant, with highly reduced male or female gametophyte ii. Dominant haploid free-living gametophyte iii. Dominant diploid sporophyte alternating with reduced gametophyte called prothallus iv. Dominant haploid leafy gametophyte alternating with partially dependent multicellular sporophyte Choose the correct matching:
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