Biology · Plant Kingdom · NEET
Both are modified leaf-like structures on the reproductive axis. A MICROsporophyll bears MICROsporangia (pollen sacs), and the microspores inside grow into pollen grains (the male gametophyte). A MEGAsporophyll bears MEGAsporangia, which are the ovules that later form seeds. So micro = male/pollen side, mega = female/ovule side.
When many sporophylls are arranged spirally along a central axis, they pack together into a compact structure. This structure is called a strobilus (plural strobili) or a cone. It is just a tight cluster of sporophylls. Cones that carry microsporophylls are male cones; cones that carry megasporophylls are female cones.
A microsporophyll makes POLLEN. It carries microsporangia, and inside them the microspores develop into pollen grains (the reduced male gametophyte). Ovules are made by megasporophylls, not microsporophylls. Do not mix these up in NEET matching questions.
Pinus is MONOECIOUS: the male cones and female cones are borne on the SAME tree. Cycas is DIOECIOUS: male cones and megasporophylls are on DIFFERENT trees. NEET asks this as a 'find the mismatch' question, so remember: Pinus = same tree, Cycas = separate trees.
A microsporangium is the pollen SAC (the container) sitting on the microsporophyll. A microspore is the tiny cell made inside that sac by meiosis. Each microspore then develops into a pollen grain. So sporangium = the bag, spore = what is inside the bag.
Because gymnosperms are heterosporous: they make two different spores, microspores and megaspores. Two spore types need two different sporangia, so they need two different sporophylls to carry them. This is why NEET links 'heterosporous' with micro- and mega-sporophylls.
Select the mismatch:
Strobili or cones are found in:
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
A sporophyll is a leaf-like structure that carries the sporangia (spore sacs). In gymnosperms these are of two types: microsporophylls (carry pollen sacs) and megasporophylls (carry ovules).
The cone made of microsporophylls (with microsporangia) is the male or microsporangiate cone. The cone made of megasporophylls (with ovules/megasporangia) is the female or macrosporangiate cone.
Yes. Cone and strobilus (plural strobili) mean the same structure — a compact cluster of sporophylls arranged spirally on an axis.
The microspore develops into the pollen grain (male gametophyte). The megaspore inside the ovule develops into the female gametophyte that bears the archegonia (egg-bearing sex organs).
The ovule (megasporangium protected by envelopes) sits on the megasporophyll. Many megasporophylls with ovules cluster to form the female cone. The ovule is naked — not enclosed in an ovary wall.
