Fern gametophyte is generally

Options

A. homothalic
B. heterothalic
C. monoecious
D. both A and B

Answer

To answer the question "Fern gametophyte is generally," we need to analyze the characteristics of fern gametophytes and the terminology used to describe their reproductive structures. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the solution:

### Step 1: Understand the Structure of Fern Gametophytes
- Ferns belong to the group of plants known as pteridophytes, which are characterized by having vascular tissues.
- The dominant phase in the life cycle of ferns is the sporophyte, which produces spores through meiosis.

**Hint:** Recall that the sporophyte is the dominant phase in ferns and produces spores.

### Step 2: Identify the Gametophyte
- The spores produced by the sporophyte germinate to form a small, multicellular, free-living structure known as the gametophyte.
- In ferns, this gametophyte is specifically called "Prothallus."

**Hint:** Remember that the gametophyte of ferns is called Prothallus.

### Step 3: Examine the Reproductive Structures
- The fern gametophyte contains both male and female sex organs. The male sex organ is called antheridia, and the female sex organ is called archegonia.
- The presence of both male and female reproductive structures in the same gametophyte indicates a specific reproductive strategy.

**Hint:** Identify the names of the male and female reproductive organs in ferns.

### Step 4: Determine the Terminology
- The terms homothelic and heterothelic refer to the arrangement of reproductive structures:
- **Homothelic:** Both male and female reproductive structures are present on the same thallus (the gametophyte).
- **Heterothelic:** Male and female reproductive structures are on different thalli.
- The term "monocious" refers to an organism that has both male and female reproductive organs in the same individual.

**Hint:** Differentiate between homothelic and heterothelic based on the location of reproductive structures.

### Step 5: Conclusion
- Since fern gametophytes (Prothallus) have both male and female reproductive structures on the same individual, they are classified as homothelic and monocious.
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question "Fern gametophyte is generally" is **both A (homothelic) and B (monocious)**.

**Final Answer:** Both A and B (homothelic and monocious).