Bryophyte

s
General Characteristics of Bryophytes:-
❏ Generally Found on moist and shady place.
❏ Roots are completely absent and vascular bundles are
absent in stem.
❏ The main plant body is gametopyte and gametes are formed
without meiosis.
❏ The male sex organ (antheridium) and female sex organ in
(archegonium) formed on gametopyte. Riccia
❏ Sporophyte is totally or partially dependent on gametophyte
❏ Distinct heteromorphic alternation and generation is found.
❏ Sexual Reproduction is oogamous type and the male gamete
is always motile, whereas female gamete or egg is non
motile.
❏ The gametophyte is independent
❏ The gametophyte reproduce by vegetative and sexual
methods.
❏ Majority of members are terrestrial but a few like Riccia
Riccia fluitans
fluitans and Riccia carpus are found in water.
❏ The sporophyte is differentiated into foot , seta and capsule.
🌱 General Characteristics of Bryophytes 4. In Bryophytes, which is motile?
a) Egg
1. Where are Bryophytes typically found? b) Spore
a) Desert regions c) Male gamete
d) Archegonium
b) Moist and shady places
c) Saline soils 5. Bryophyte sporophyte is:
d) Alpine tundra a) Independent of gametophyte
b) Fully autotrophic
2. Bryophytes lack: c) Dependent on gametophyte
a) Gametophyte d) Root-bearing
b) Sporophyte
c) Vascular tissues
d) Archegonia

3. The gametes in Bryophytes are formed:

a) After fertilization
b) By meiosis
c) Without meiosis
d) In roots
Range of thallus
Main plant body in bryophyta is gametopyte. Its plant body is of two types -
(1) Thalloid and (2) Leafy.

1) Thalloid - The plant of lower of lower bryophyte e.g. Riccia , Marchantia Etc., is called
thalloid or thallus. Its is dorsivental, prostrate , dichotomously branched flat and ribbon like. On
the dorsal side of the thallus midrib is present. Sex organs are developed on dorsal surface.
Midrib is absent in anthoceros. Rhizoids and scales are present on the lower surface.

2) Leafy - The plant body of the higher bryophytes e.g. moss is erect. It is rootless leafy
shoot. It is differentiated into stem like axis and leaf like lateral appendages. Rhizoids arise
from the base of the axis. The example of the higher bryophytes are Sphagnum, Funaria,
Polytrichum, etc.
Thalloid Leafy
🌿 Thallus Organization

6. Thalloid plant body is found in:

a) Sphagnum
b) Polytrichum
c) Riccia
d) Funaria

7. Leafy plant body is characteristic of:

a) Marchantia
b) Riccia
c) Funaria
d) Anthoceros

8. Which structure is present in Marchantia thallus but absent in Anthoceros?

a) Rhizoids
b) Scales
c) Midrib
d) Archegonium
 Archesporium in Bryophyta
❏ In the sporophyte of bryophytes, the first formed sporogenus tissue is called archesporium.
❏ The Archesporium gives rise to spore mother cells.
❏ It is formed by certain tissue of sporophyte.
❏ It generally formed in the capsule part of sporophyte
❏ The origin and formation of archesporium differs in different in different members of bryophyta
Descripion is given as follows:-

1) Hepaticopsida - Marchantiales

i) Riccia -

● Archesporium arises from endothecium forms only spore

mother cells (sporogenous cells.
● These cells divide by meiosis to produce haploid spores.
● According to pagan in Riccia crystallina ,some cell may also
from nurse cells.
Riccia
Anthoceros Marchantia
 funaria

Riccia
 ii) Marchantia -

● Archesporium also develops from Endothecium.

● 50% cells become spore mother cell (sporopytes).
● 50% cells become elater mother cells → from elators ( sterile
spiral thickened cells).
● Elators are long and cylindrical with tapered ends help in
spore dispersal.
Marchantia
Anthocerotopsida - Anthocerotales

● Archesporium forms from the inner layer of amphithecium not

endothecium
● Outer amphithecium layer → Capsule wall
Inner amphithecium layer → archesporium
● Archesporial cells divide many times → spores mother cells +
pseudoelators
● Endohecium forms a central columella.
Anthoceros
Bryopsida - Funariales

● Example - funaria
● Archesporium forms endothecium
● Located between columella and capsule wall
● Forms many spore mother cells.
● Archesporium divides meiotically to produce haploid spores.
● Elaors and elaterophores are absent

Funaria
🧬 Archesporium

9. In Riccia, archesporium develops from:

a) Amphithecium
b) Epidermis
c) Endothecium
d) Columella

10. Archesporium gives rise to:

a) Antheridia
b) Egg cells
c) Spore mother cells
d) Elaters

11. In Anthoceros, archesporium originates from:

a) Epidermis
b) Inner amphithecium
c) Midrib
d) Columella
 Classification of Bryophyta:-

Proskauer (1957) Classified the division Bryophyta into three

classes and then each class was divided into order as follows:-
Division- Bryophyta

Class Class Class

Hepaticopsida Anthocerotopsida Bryopsida
Order- Marchantiales Order- Anthocerotales Order- Musci
Sphaerocarples
Jungermanniales
Calobryales
Hepaticopsi
da
Class- Hepaticopsida

● Dorsiventral or leafy. ● Elaters in capsule for spore

dispersal.

● Unicellular rhizoids. ● No protonema stage.

● Leaves (if present) in 2–3 rows, no ● Antheridia/archegonia on surface.

midrib.
● Asexual reproduction via gemmae.
● Oil bodies in cells.
● Eg: Marchantia, Riccia
● Simple sporophyte (foot, seta,
capsule).
Anthoceros Marchantia
Anthocerotopsida
Class- Anthocerotopsida

● Flat, rosette-like thallus. ● No seta; basal meristem present.

● One large chloroplast per cell with ● Stomata on capsule.

pyrenoid.
● Continuous sporophyte growth.
● Rhizoids unicellular, smooth. ● Eg: Anthoceros, Notothylas

● Sex organs embedded in thallus.

● Long, horn-like sporophyte.

Bryopsida
Class- Bryopsida

● Plant body has stem and leaf-like ● Capsule may have peristome teeth.
parts.
● Grows in tufts or carpets.
● Leaves spirally arranged with midrib.
● Reproduce by spores, fragmentation.

● Multicellular, branched rhizoids. ● Eg: Funaria, Polytrichum, Sphagnum

● Well-developed protonema.

● Sporophyte: foot, long seta, capsule.

Classification

12. Bryophytes are classified into how many classes according to Proskauer
(1957)?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5

13. Which order belongs to Bryopsida?

a) Jungermanniales
b) Marchantiales
c) Anthocerotales
d) Musci
Reproduction in Bryophyta
Reproductio
n

Vegetative Sexual

Vegetative Reproduction is a common method of Reproduction.

Fragmentation
● Old or injured parts break off naturally.

● Each fragment develops into a new plant.

● Seen in Riccia, Marchantia, Funaria.

 Primary Protonema
Gemmae
● Small, green, multicellular disc-like ● In mosses like Funaria, spores first form
bodies. protonema.

● Formed in gemma cups on the thallus. ● Fragments of this protonema can form new
gametophytes.
● Dispersed by rain; grow into new plants.

● Found in Marchantia.

Tuber Formation Secondary Protonema

● Underground storage bodies (like potato ● Formed from any part of the moss plant
tubers). (rhizoids, leaves).
● Survive dry conditions, regrow when
moist. ● Can develop into new moss plants.

● Seen in Anthoceros.
Gemmae
Sexual Reproduction in bryophyta
🔹 1. Pre-fertilization Events
These events prepare the plant for sexual reproduction:
1. Dioecious or Monoecious:

○ Plants may be unisexual (dioecious) or bisexual (monoecious).

2. Sex Organs:

○ Male: Antheridia – produce biflagellate sperm.

○ Female: Archegonia – flask-shaped, contains egg.

3. Position:

○ Sex organs develop on gametophyte.

○ In mosses: at tips of leafy shoots.

○ In liverworts/hornworts: on dorsal surface of thallus.

 4. Water is essential:

○ Needed for sperm movement from antheridium to archegonium

🔹 2. Fertilization
● Sperm swims through water film toward archegonium.

● Neck canal cells of archegonium disintegrate → path opens.

● One sperm fuses with the egg → forms zygote.

● Occurs in archegonium, on the gametophyte.

🔹 3. Post-fertilization Events
○ Zygote is retained inside archegonium.

○ Zygote divides mitotically to form embryo

 ○ Sporophyte is dependent on the gametophyte.

○ Sporophyte differentiates into:

○ Foot (attached to gametophyte)

○ Seta (stalk – in mosses/liverworts)

○ Capsule (produces haploid spores by meiosis)

● Spores are released → germinate into new gametophyte.

Gametophyte (n) → Sex organs → Fertilization → Zygote (2n) →

Sporophyte (2n) → Meiosis → Spores (n) → Gametophyte (n)
🌸 Reproduction in Bryophytes 17. Sperm reaches egg in Bryophytes
through:
14. Gemmae are found in:
a) Insects
a) Riccia
b) Air
b) Anthoceros
c) Water
c) Marchantia
d) Tubes
d) Polytrichum

15. Tuber formation in Bryophytes is seen in: 18. Post-fertilization, the zygote develops
a) Funaria into:
b) Riccia a) Archegonium
c) Anthoceros b) Gametophyte
d) Sphagnum c) Protonema
d) Sporophyte
16. Spores in mosses first develop into:
a) Gametophyte
b) Protonema
c) Archegonium
d) Sporophyte
Ecological Importance of Bryophyta
Nutrient Cycling
● Soil Formation
● Decay of bryophytes adds organic
Pioneer species on bare rocks – help in matter to soil.
weathering and soil creation.

Habitat Creation
● Water Retention

Bryophytes, especially Sphagnum, hold ● Provide microhabitats for small

large amounts of water like a sponge. invertebrates, fungi, and algae.

● Prevent Soil Erosion Indicator of Pollution

Form dense mats that bind the soil and ● Sensitive to pollutants – used as
prevent erosion. bioindicators of air and water quality.
 Habitat
Creation

Water Retention

Soil formation

Prevent Soil Erosion

● Climate Regulation

○ Sphagnum bogs act as carbon sinks – help reduce

atmospheric CO₂.

● Maintain Humidity

○ Release moisture into the environment, maintaining

ecosystem humidity.

● Succession

○ Help in ecological succession, preparing ground for

higher plants.

● Forest Floor Health

● Mosses keep forest floors moist and support biodiversity.

Economic Importance of Bryophyta
Soil Conditioner
Peat Formation

● Peat improves water retention and aeration

● Sphagnum forms peat used as fuel, soil
in soil.
conditioner, and packing material.

Packing Material
Horticulture & Gardening
● Mosses are used to pack fragile items like
● Mosses are used to decorate gardens and in bulbs and roots during transport.
bonsai for moisture retention.
Model Organism
Wound Dressing (Historical)
● Physcomitrella patens used in genetic and
● Sphagnum was used as antiseptic dressing in developmental studies.
World War I (absorbs pus/blood).
 Sphagnum
Horticulture & Gardening

Packing Material

Physcomitrella patens
Soil Conditioner
Medicine

Handicrafts &
Decoration
● Medicinal Use

○ Some species studied for antimicrobial and anti-

inflammatory properties.

● Handicrafts & Decoration

○ Mosses used in making decorative items, terrariums, and Fuel Source

green walls.

● Fuel Source

○ Dried peat is used as a low-cost fuel in many regions.

● Water Purification

● Some mosses have been shown to absorb heavy metals and

purify water. Water Purification
🌍 Ecological and Economic Importance

19. Which of the following is a pollution indicator?

a) Riccia
b) Sphagnum
c) Funaria
d) Bryophytes

20. Peat used for fuel and soil conditioning is obtained from:
a) Polytrichum
b) Sphagnum
c) Marchantia
d) Anthoceros