Question

Deep in the tropical rain forest, a botanist discovered an unusual plant with vascular tissues, stomata, a cuticle, flagellated sperm, cone like reproductive structures bearing seeds, and an alternation-of-generations life cycle. He was very excited about this discovery because it would be rather unusual for a plant to have both:
a) A cuticle and flagellated sperm.
b) Seeds and flagellated sperm.
c) Vascular tissues and alternation of generations.
d) Alternation of generations and seeds.

Answer 1

d) is the correct option

Explanation:

• It is unusual for a plant to have both alternation of generations and seeds
• All plants undergo a life cycle that takes them through both haploid and diploid generations
• The multicellular diploid plant structure is called the sporophyte, which produces spores through meiotic (asexual) division
• The multicellular haploid plant structure is called the gametophyte, which is formed from the spore and give rise to the haploid gametes
• The fluctuation between these diploid and haploid stages that occurs in plants is called the alternation of generations
• In a seed, the embryo develops from a fertilized egg, while still inside the seed the embryo forms its first leaf (cotyledon) and starts to develop a stem (hypocotyl) and root (radicle)
• The tough seed coat protects the embryo and keeps it from drying out until conditions are favorable for germination
• The stored food in a seed is called endosperm
• It nourishes the embryo until it can start making food on its own