HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE

CYCLE
LABARDA, LEE, LIM & LUSANTA
4BIO3

FERNS
4 Extant classes: Psilotopsida, Equisetopsida, Marattiopsia &

Polypodiopsida
Under the monophyletic assemblage: Embryophyte Plants
Evolution of embryo and sporophyte
Under monophyletic subgroup: Vascular Plants
Homosporous
Reproduce via spore and have neither seedsnorflowers

HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE CYCLE

Commonly called Alternation of generation
Consists of two phases
Sporophyte & Gametophyte

HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE
CYCLE

HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE CYCLE

SPOROPHYTE
Separate diploid, spore producing part
Photosynthetic
Independent of the gametophyte
GAMETOPHYTE
Haploid, gamete-producing part

HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE CYCLE

EMBRYO
Immature sporophyte
Will remain dormant for a period of time and will

begin growth after proper environment conditions

are met

HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE CYCLE

SPORANGIUM
Spore-producing region of the Sporophyte
Clustered in Sori
Enveloped by a Sporangial wall
Contains Sporogenous tissue
Sporocyte = Cells that undergo Meiosis = Will produce 4

haploid spore

HAPLODIPLONTIC LIFE CYCLE

Spores
Will undergo mitosis, growth & differentiation
Grows into the multicellular, haplod Gametophyte body

Prothallus
usually heart or kidney shaped
doesnt have roots, stems or leaves but it does have rhizoids

that anchor it to the soil and help with absorption

ANTHERIDIUM
Antheridial wall
Small spherical

structures
Produce motile sperm

or antherozoids

ARCHEGONIA
Specialized female gametangium
Flask-shaped structures that

produce an egg
Venter
Egg cell
Ventral canal cell
Neck canal cell
Site for Embryo/Sporophyte
development

MATURE SPOROPHYTE
3 major parts
Rhizome: Contains xylem, phloem and schlerenchyma fibers
Fronds: leaf of the ferns
Sporangia: reproductive structures of ferns

MATURE
SPOROPHYTE

CONCLUSION

Ferns have a haplodiplontic life cycle.

The asexual sporophyte generation and sexual

gametophytes are occurring alternatively.

Since the two generations are independent from each

other compared to the mosses and liverworts, it allows

them to disperse more efficiently.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
What life cycle type is exhibited by the specimens? State the reason of your answer.
Zea mays have haplodiplonti life cycle because it has gametophyte and sporophye stages. And

Agaricus sp. exhibits a haplontic life cycle. And the drosophilla

Which among the specimens would have a haploid and diploid adult?
Zea mays and Agaricus sp. has the diploid adult while Drosophilla melanogaster has a haploid adult.

What is micro and megasporogenesis in a plant? What do theses developmental stages

represent?
Megasporogenesis is the development of megaspore in the female gametophyte that bears the

archegonia while microsporogenesisis th development of microspores in the male gametophyte

bearing the antheridia. These represent that the two plants are heterospory which means they have
two different spores.

REFERENCES

Simpson, M.G. (2010). Plant Systematics (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Academic Press.
Croft, J.R. (1999, November). Reproduction and Life Cycle of Ferns and their Allies.

Retrieved from https://www.anbg.gov.au/fern/life_cycle.html

University of Waikato. (2010, September). Fern Life Cycle. Retreived from

http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Ferns/Sci-Media/Animations-and-Interactives/Fern-life-cy
cle