Spores dispersal in mosses occurs by-

Options

A. simple mechanism
B. elaters
C. elaterophores
D. elaborate mechanism

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Mosses and Their Classification**:
- Mosses belong to the group of plants known as bryophytes. Bryophytes are often referred to as the amphibians of the plant kingdom because they require water for reproduction.

2. **Structure of Mosses**:
- The main plant body of mosses is the gametophyte, which is haploid. This means that it contains only one set of chromosomes. The gametophyte is responsible for producing gametes (sperm and eggs).

3. **Fertilization and Sporophyte Development**:
- When the male and female gametes fuse, they form a zygote. This zygote then develops into a sporophyte, which is diploid (having two sets of chromosomes).

4. **Parts of the Sporophyte**:
- The sporophyte in mosses consists of three main parts: the foot, seta (stalk), and capsule. The capsule is where spores are produced.

5. **Spores Formation**:
- Spores are formed within the capsule through a process called meiosis. This process reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in haploid spores.

6. **Mechanism of Spore Dispersal**:
- Mosses have an elaborate mechanism for spore dispersal. The spores are released from the capsule when it opens, and various mechanisms such as wind or water can assist in their dispersal.

7. **Examples of Mosses**:
- Examples of mosses that exhibit this spore dispersal mechanism include Pheneria, Sephanigum, and Polytrichum.

8. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question of how spores dispersal occurs in mosses is through an elaborate mechanism.

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