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gametophyte
gametophyte , phase of plant life cycles in which the gametes, i.e., egg and sperm, are produced. The gametophyte is haploid, that is, each cell contains a single complete set of chromosomes, and arises from the germination of a haploid spore. In many lower plants, the gametophyte phase is the dominant plant form; for example, the familiar mosses are the gametophyte form of the plants. The alternate phase of the plant life cycle is the sporophyte, the diploid plant form, with each cell containing two complete sets of chromosomes. For example, in mosses the sporophyte is a capsule atop a slender stalk that grows out of the top of the gametophyte. The sporophyte develops from the union of two gametes, such as an egg fertilized by a sperm; in turn, the sporophyte forms spores that develop into gametophytes. The alternation between haploid gametophyte and diploid sporophyte phases, known as alternation of generations, occurs in all multicellular plants. As plants advanced in evolutionary development, the sporophyte became the increasingly dominant plant form and the gametophyte form has been correspondingly reduced. In contrast to mosses, for example, in the advanced angiosperms the male and female gametophytes are reduced to three-celled and seven-celled structures, respectively, found within the reproductive organs of the familiar flowering plant (the sporophyte). See also fertilization ; reproduction . |
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"gametophyte." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gametophyte." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-gametoph.html "gametophyte." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-gametoph.html |
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Gametophyte
GametophyteA gametophyte, or gamete-bearing plant, is one of the two multicellular phases that occur in alternation of generations. The gametophyte is the haploid phase; that is, its cells contain only one set of chromosomes, in contrast to the sporophyte phase, where the cells contain two sets. The gametophyte develops from the germinating, haploid spore, which was produced by meiosis in the sporangium of the sporophyte phase. Gametophytes produce sperm and egg cells by mitosis , often in multicellular gametangia known as antheridia and archegonia, respectively. Fertilization, which occurs in the female gametophyte, establishes a new sporophyte generation. In some algae, like sea lettuce, the vegetative gametophyte is identical in form to the vegetative sporophyte, but in most organisms the gametophyte has a very different appearance from the sporophyte. In bryophytes the gametophyte is the highly visible, persistent phase of the plant, but in vascular plants the gametophyte is short-lived and often much reduced in size. Among land plants, gametophytes are of four different types. These include: (1) the green, leafy shoot systems of mosses, and leafy liverworts; (2) the green, thallus to prothallus forms of thalloid liverworts, hornworts, horsetails, most ferns, and some lycopods; (3) the colorless, subterranean, mycorrhizal axes of psilophytes and some lycopods; and (4) the small, endosporic forms of heterosporous lycopods, some ferns, and all seed plants. The smallest and least complex gametophytes are those of the flowering plants. The male gametophyte is the two- or three-celled pollen grain that is released from the anther, and the female gametophyte is the seven-celled embryo sac that is located in the base of the pistil of the flower. see also Bryophytes; Reproduction, Alternation of Generations and; Reproduction, Fertilization and; Reproduction, Sexual; Sporophyte. Barbara Crandall-Stotler BibliographyGraham, Linda. "The Origin of the Life Cycle of Land Plants." American Scientist 73 (1985):178-186. |
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Crandall-Stotler, Barbara. "Gametophyte." Plant Sciences. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Crandall-Stotler, Barbara. "Gametophyte." Plant Sciences. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3408000147.html Crandall-Stotler, Barbara. "Gametophyte." Plant Sciences. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3408000147.html |
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gametophyte
gametophyte The generation in the life cycle of a plant that bears the gamete-producing sex organs. The gametophyte is haploid. It is the dominant phase in the life cycle of mosses and liverworts, the sporophyte generation depending on it either partially or completely. In clubmosses, horsetails, and ferns it is the prothallus. In seed plants it is very much reduced. For example, in angiosperms the pollen grain is the male gametophyte and the embryo sac is the female gametophyte. See also alternation of generations.
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"gametophyte." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-gametophyte.html "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-gametophyte.html |
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gametophyte
ga·me·to·phyte / gəˈmētəˌfīt/ • n. Bot. (in the life cycle of plants with alternating generations) the gamete-producing and usually haploid phase, producing the zygote from which the sporophyte arises. It is the dominant form in bryophytes. DERIVATIVES: ga·me·to·phyt·ic / gəˌmētəˈfitik/ adj. |
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"gametophyte." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gametophyte." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gametophyte.html "gametophyte." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-gametophyte.html |
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gametophyte
gametophyte A haploid phase of the life cycle of plants, during which gametes are produced by mitosis. It arises from a haploid spore produced by meiosis from a diploid sporophyte. In lower plants (such as mosses), the gametophyte is the dominant and conspicuous generation. See also alternation of generations.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-gametophyte.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-gametophyte.html |
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gametophyte
gametophyte A haploid phase of the life cycle of plants, during which gametes are produced by mitosis. It arises from a haploid spore produced by meiosis from a diploid sporophyte. In lower plants (such as mosses), the gametophyte is the dominant and conspicuous generation. See also ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-gametophyte.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "gametophyte." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-gametophyte.html |
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gametophyte
gametophyte Generation of plants and algae that bears the female and male gametes. In flowering plants, these are the germinated pollen grains (male) and the embryo sac (female) inside the ovule. See also alternation of generations; fern
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"gametophyte." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "gametophyte." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-gametophyte.html "gametophyte." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-gametophyte.html |
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