Most reduced sized gametophyte is of

Options

A. Bryophyte
B. Pteridophyte
C. Gymnosperm
D. Angiosperm

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Gametophytes**: The gametophyte is the haploid multicellular stage in the life cycle of plants, which is crucial during the alternation of generations. It produces gametes (sperm and egg) for fertilization.

2. **Types of Plants**: The question presents four types of plants: Bryophyta (mosses), Pteridophyta (ferns), Gymnosperms (conifers), and Angiosperms (flowering plants). Each of these groups has a different structure and size of gametophytes.

3. **Gametophyte Size in Different Groups**:
- **Bryophyta**: In bryophytes, the gametophyte is the dominant stage and is relatively large and independent.
- **Pteridophyta**: In ferns, the gametophyte is small but still independent and photosynthetic.
- **Gymnosperms**: In gymnosperms, the male gametophyte is reduced to pollen grains, while the female gametophyte develops within the ovule.
- **Angiosperms**: In angiosperms, the gametophyte is highly reduced. The male gametophyte is represented by the pollen grain, and the female gametophyte (embryo sac) consists of only a few cells and is completely dependent on the sporophyte for nutrition.

4. **Conclusion**: Based on the information about the size and independence of the gametophyte in these groups, it is clear that the most reduced size of the gametophyte is found in Angiosperms.

5. **Final Answer**: Therefore, the correct answer is Angiosperms.

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