Vegetative reproduction in mosses is by fragmentation and

Options

A. Budding in the secondary protonema
B. Gemmae formation
C. Bulbils
D. Zoospores

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Vegetative Reproduction**:
- Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction where new plants grow from parts of the parent plant without the involvement of seeds or spores.

2. **Identifying the Organism**:
- The question specifically refers to mosses, which are classified as bryophytes. In bryophytes, the dominant phase of the life cycle is the gametophyte, which is haploid (N).

3. **Types of Vegetative Reproduction in Mosses**:
- The two main types of vegetative reproduction in mosses are:
- **Fragmentation**: This occurs when a part of the moss breaks off and develops into a new individual. For example, if a moss plant is fragmented, each piece can grow into a new plant.
- **Budding**: This occurs in the secondary protonema stage, where new shoots or buds form from the protonema, leading to the development of new gametophytes.

4. **Eliminating Incorrect Options**:
- **Gamma production**: This is not a method of vegetative reproduction in mosses.
- **Bulbil**: This is not applicable to mosses; it is more common in certain flowering plants.
- **Zoospores**: These are primarily found in algae and not in bryophytes like mosses.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the analysis, the correct answer to the question "Vegetative reproduction in mosses is by fragmentation and..." is **budding**.

**Final Answer**: Budding.

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