UNEB QUESTIONS ON THE TOPIC

1. Which one of the following has a dominant gametophyte?

A. Chlorophyta
B. Spermatophyte
C. Pteridophyte
D. Bryophyte
2. Ferns are considered to be more advance land plants than mosses because sporophytes of
fern
A. Are able to produce spores
B. Have green leaves
C. Develop rhizoids
D. Have well developed vascular system
3. The genetic conditions of the spores produced in the sporophyte of bryophytes is
A. Tetraploid
B. Haploid
C. Polyploid
D. diploid
4. Bryophytes and pteridophytes cannot fully exploit terrestrial life mainly because they
A. lack well developed vascular system
B. depend on water for fertilization
C. lack roots
D. are covered with thin cuticle
5. The figure below represents the life cycle of a moss.

spores gametophyte

sporophyte gametes

The stage in the life cycle formed by meiosis is the formation of

A. gametes
B. spores
C. gametophyte
D. sporophyte
6. At which of the following stages does meiosis occur in the life cycle of a fern? During
the formation of the
A. gametes
B. Gametophyte
C. Spores
D. sporophyte

7. In which of the following plants showing alternation of generation is the sporophyte

generation dominant?
A. Mosses and algae B. Algae and ferns
C. Fern and mosses D. Ferns and gymnosperm

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 Free living
8. gametophyte

Haploid
spore
Male Female
Gamete

sporophyte Zygote

The diagram above summarizes the life cycle of a plant. Which plant is likely to be
A. Colonial algae
B. Moss
C. Flowering plant
D. Unicellular algae
9. In bryophytes gametes are produced by
A. Gametophytes through mitosis
B. Sprophytes through meiosis
C. Sporophytes through mitosis
D. Gametophytes through meiosis

10. Parthenogenesis differ from a sexual reproduction in that, parthenogenesis involves A.

Two organisms of different sex
B. Fertilization
C. Formation of gametes
D. Mixing of genetic material
11. Which one of the following is a form of vegetative propagation? A. Spore formation
B. Conjugation
C. Budding
D. Diploid parthenogenesis
12. What is the advantage of fragmentation over conjugation as a means of reproduction in
spirogyra?
A. Varied offspring are produced
B. Fast-growing offspring are produced
C. Many offspring are produced
D. More resistant offspring are produced.
13. The common method of reproduction in organism which have a large number of
undifferentiated cells is
A. Conjugation
B. Fragmentation
C. Sporulation

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 D. fission
14. Which one of the following is the diploid stage in the life-cycle of a moss?
A. Protonema
B. Sprophyte
C. Gametophyte
D. Antheridium
15. Which one of the following statements on reproduction is true?

A. Asexual reproduction always results into identical offspring.

B. Gametes are always produced by meiosis.

C. Mitosis always produces diploid cells.

D. Gametes are always haploid.

16. A moss alternates between two distinct forms in its life cycle; as a gametophyte and
sporophyte
(a) Describe how
(i) A gametophyte forms a
sporophyte (ii) A sporophye forms a
gametophyte.

(b) Explain why mosses are restricted to living in wet environment.

17. (a) Explain what is meant by alternation of generation.
(b) State two difference and two similarities between pollen grains of a flowering plant
and the spore of moss.

(i) Differences
(ii) Similarities
(c ) How are ferns better adapted to live on land than mosses?

(d) Suggest why Bryophytes are

(i) Restricted to growing in damp environment
(ii) Able to grow successfully on land

18, (a) What is meant by alternation of generation?

(b). Ferns and mosses show alternation of generation. State the dominant stage in each case

(i) ferns

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 (ii) Mosses

(c) Give important of alternation of generation in the life cycle of an organisms

(d) Outline the limitations that mosses face in growing in terrestrial inhabitants
19. (a) Explain what is meant by term alternative generation? (02marks)
(b) Compare the life cycle of a moss and fern (13marks)
(c) What is the importance of alternative generation to the life of a moss and fern
(3marks)

20. (a) Explain how ferns are better adapted to terrestrial life than mosses.

(b) How does temperature influence the following processes in plants?

(i) Plant growth.

(ii) plant distribution.

21. (a) State the similarities and differences between bryophytes and pteridophytes
(b) Discuss the significance of alternation of generation to the life histories of plants

22. (a) What is meant by the term “alternative generation?”

(b) State the advantage of alternation of generation provide for sexual reproduction (c)
Why is life better as a sporophyte than a gametophyte

Answers to objective question

1. D 5. B 9. A 13 B
2. D 6. C 10 C 14 B
3. B 7. D 11 C 15 D
4. B 8. B 12 B

16. Solution
(a) (i) The gametophyte is haploid produces gametes by mitosis. The gametes fuse
to produce a diploid zygote which grow by mitosis into the diploid
sporophyte. (ii) The sporophyte produces spores by meiosis. Spores are
therefore haploid. They are small, light and readily dispersed by wind. On a
suitable surface, and when conditions are favorable, spores germinate and
grow by mitosis into a haploid gametophyte.
(b) Body is not covered with cuticle. Therefore, they need water for protection
from desiccation.

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 They lack vascular tissue. Therefore, they need water to be supplied to their
various parts osmosis.

They need water for swimming of gametes before fertilization can occur.
17. (a) Alternation of generation is the alternation between a diploid spore producing
sporophyte generation and a haploid gametes gametophyte generation in a single life
cycle of a plant in the same cycle. The alternates between a diploid (2n) sporophyte
generation and haploid (n) generation.
(a) Differences
Spore Pollen grains

Can germinate into an independent plant Cannot form an independent plant

structure.
structure
Male gametes
Not gametes

Others: Are viable for only a limited time

Remain viable over a long period of time

(iii) Similarities
They are both formed by meiosis
They are both haploid
Others
They are both light and dispersed by wind.
(b)

- Ferns are vascular plants containing vascular tissue made up of xylem ad pheom
- They sporophyte generation has true roots, stems and leaves
- Their bodies are supported by xylem because it contains lignified cells of great
strength and rigidity.
Others:
- The true leave trap more light for photosynthesis

(c) They lack a well-developed root system and rely on diffusion across the whole
plant body and the root like rhizoids to obtain water They are delicate and small.

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 They lack a cuticle, thus, they can easily be subjected to desiccation in drier
environment

They depend on water for the movement of male gamest towards female gametes
during fertilization.

Have chlorophyll and are therefore capable of photosynthesizing

They grow in clusters and therefore strengthen their positions on the soil.
They reproduce both sexually and a sexually. This increases their chances of
survival on land

18. Solution:

(a) Alternation of generation is a life cycle of plants which consist of water alternating
stages of growth (generation); a haploid gametophyte which produces gametes by
mitosis and a diploid saprophyte which produces spore by meiosis
The life cycle is complete when the plant passes through both stage as seen in
bryophytes and pteridophytes.

(b) (i) Sporophyte stage

(ii) Gametophyte stage

(c) It promotes variation through meiosis, which then ensures that only the better adapted
organisms survive.
Others:

It enables the organism to colonize more than one habitat of varying environment
conditions.

It leads to rapid colonization of habitat as by an organism since several spores are

produced.

(d)
- Mosses lack a cuticle hence are prone to desiccation
- Leaves are small and sessile and provide a small surface area for trapping sunlight for
photosynthesis.

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- Thallus provides a large surface area for water loss thus liable to desiccation. -
Leave are pale-green and thus have chlorophyll content inadequate for photosynthesis
- False roots are superficial and incapable of absorbing enough water.

19. Solution:

(a) Alternation of generations is the alteration between a diploid sporophyte generation

and the haploid gametophyte generation in a single life cycle of a plant. (b) Similarities
between the life cycle of a moss and a fern
- In both the diploid sporophyte produces spores and the haploid gametophyte
produces gametes.
- In both the female gamete is non-motile while the male gamete is motile.
- In both the sporophyte grows out of the gametophyte.
- In both gametes are produced by mitosis.

Differences
Life cycle of moss Life cycles of a fern

- Gametophyte is dominant and - Gametophyte is dependent and

- Sporophyte is dependent - Sporophyte is dominant
- Sporophyte is very temporary - Sporophyte is long-lasting
photosynthesizes to a limited extent photosynthetically active
- Gametophyte is long-lasting - Gametophyte is a temporary organ

(c) Significance of alternation of generations

• There is rapid multiplication as spores are normally produced in large numbers
• Spores can survive harsh conditions and germinate when conditions are favorable
• Spores leads to formation of different varieties since meiosis takes place during their
formation.
• Fertilization restores diploid chromosome number. Production of gametes by mitosis
ensures that the haploid gametophyte state is maintained. This maintains the plant
genome.
• Alternative between gametophyte and sporophyte generations ensures that the plant
colonizes different habitats in the ecosystem.

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 • Interdependence between gametophyte and sporophyte generation ensures existence
of both generations and avoids extinction of the plant species.

[Link].

(a) Feerns are better adapted to terrestrial life than mosses because;
• Ferns have rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) which act as organs of
perennation, allowing the ferns to survive unfavorable climatic conditions unlike
mosses.
• Sporophytes of ferns have true roots for anchorage and transport of water and mineral
salts, unlike mosses which have false roots (rhizoids)
• Ferns produce, more spore than mosses. These increases their chances of
reproduction and colonization of habitat compared to mosses.
• Ferns have a well-developed vascular system that supplies the whole plants with
water
and food.
• The lignified xylem offers more support to the fern.
• Ferns have broader leaves which present a larger surface area for photosynthesis.
• Sporophyte generation of ferns is nutritionally independent while that of the mosses
depends on the gametophyte for nutrients.
• Ferns have true stems to support the leaves to obtain enough light for photosynthesis.
They also help them to withstand air currents present in the terrestrial environment.
• Leaves of ferns have waxy cuticle to prevent desiccation.

(b)(i) Temperature acts as a limiting factor in plant growth and development by influencing
the rate of cell division, cell metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, excretion etc.
which directly impact on growth.

• Above or below the enzyme working range, the enzymes are denatured or inactivated
respectively. In either case the reactions cease, leading to delayed/limited plant
growth.
• Low temperatures stimulate flowering and germination in plants.

( ii) Temperate plants are distributed in cool regions whose temperatures do not usually
exceed 250C while plants that can withstand higher temperatures are more abundant in
the tropics or deserts where temperatures are usually above 250C.

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 • C4 plants are more abundant in hot climatic temperatures because they are more
efficient at fixing carbon dioxide at high temperatures. On the hand C3 plants are
more abundant in cooler environments because they fix carbon dioxide better at
lower temperatures.
• Some aquatic plants can withstand very high temperatures and can thrive in hot
springs while some can withstand very cold temperatures thrive in snow. The biggest
percentage thrives in moderate temperatures which can support their metabolic
activities.

21 (a) Similarities between bryophytes and pteridophytes

(i) Both show alternative generation involving two distinct plants: a haploid
gamentaphyte and diploid saprophytes
(ii) Both reproduce by asexual and sexual means
(iii)In both female gamates are non-motile while the male gametes are motile
(iv)Both produce spores by meiosis
(v) Both produce gametes by mitosis

Differences between bryophytes and pteridophytes

Bryophytes Pteridophytes
Saprophyte has no roots Saprophyte has roots
Gametophyte dominant Gametophyte a temporary structure
Saprophyte nutritionally depend on Saprophyte dormnant
gametophyte
Lack vascular tissue Has vascular tissue to transport both water
and food

(b) Significance of alternative generation

(vi) Rapid multiplication through production of spores
(vii)Spore survive harsh conditions
(viii) Spore formation by meiosis leads to variation
(ix) Random fusion of gametes by fertilization causes variation
(x) Gametophytes and sporophytes occupy different ecological niches reducing
competition