Seeds of gymnosperms have three generations, that is-

Options

A. Two sporophytic and one gametophytic generation
B. Two gametophytic and one sporophytic
C. All the three sporophytic generations
D. All the three gametophytic generations

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Gymnosperms**: Gymnosperms are seed-producing plants that do not produce flowers. They are characterized by having seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary.

2. **Life Cycle of Gymnosperms**: Gymnosperms exhibit a life cycle that is predominantly sporophytic. This means that the sporophyte generation (the diploid phase) is the dominant phase in their life cycle.

3. **Generations in Gymnosperms**: In the context of gymnosperms, there are three generations involved in the seed structure:
- **First Generation (Sporophyte)**: This is the parent plant that produces the seeds.
- **Second Generation (Gametophyte)**: This is the generation that develops from the spores. In gymnosperms, the male gametophyte (microgametophyte) develops from the microspore, and the female gametophyte (megagametophyte) develops from the megaspore.
- **Third Generation (Sporophyte)**: The fertilized egg develops into a new sporophyte, which will eventually grow into a new gymnosperm plant.

4. **Identifying the Generations**: In summary, the seed of a gymnosperm contains:
- 2 generations of sporophytes (the parent sporophyte and the new sporophyte formed after fertilization).
- 1 generation of gametophyte (the gametophyte that develops from the spores).

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that gymnosperm seeds have **2 sporophytic generations and 1 gametophytic generation**.

---