Archegonia-Bearing Plants & Life Cycles — NEET Biology

Correct answer: B — S1, S2, S3 and S5 only

The question asks for the correct characteristic features of gymnosperms as discussed in NCERT Chapter 3. S1: Correct. NCERT states, 'The gymnosperms (gymnos : naked, sperma : seeds) are plants in which the ovules are not enclosed by any ovary wall and remain exposed, both before and after fertilisation. The seeds that develop post-fertilisation, are not covered, i.e., are naked.' (Page 32). S2: Correct. NCERT states, 'The multicellular female gametophyte that bears two or more archegonia or female sex organs.' (Page 33). Archegonia are also present in bryophytes (Page 29) and pteridophytes (Page 32). S3: Correct. NCERT mentions the absence of flowers in gymnosperms by contrasting with angiosperms, where 'pollen grains and ovules are developed in specialised structures called flowers.' (Page 34). The lack of fruit formation is a direct consequence of naked ovules (Page 32). S4: Incorrect. In gymnosperms, the endosperm is haploid and develops *before* fertilisation, not after, and is not triploid. Triploid endosperm, formed after fertilisation, is characteristic of angiosperms. While the specific ploidy isn't explicitly stated in Chapter 3, the relative timing of endosperm formation and its ploidy is a standard distinction. (Page 35, Summary on Angiosperms vs Gymnosperms). S5: Correct. NCERT states, 'Unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, in gymnosperms, the male and the female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes.' (Page 33). Therefore, statements S1, S2, S3, and S5 are correct. The tested concept is the unique and shared characteristics of gymnosperms within the plant kingdom.