In gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is retained within -

Options

A. Ovary
B. Microsporangiate cone
C. Archegonia
D. Megasporangium or ovule

Answer

To answer the question, "In gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is retained within," we can break down the solution into the following steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Gymnosperms**:
- Gymnosperms are a group of plants that produce seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary. They are characterized by the presence of naked seeds.

2. **Reproductive Structures**:
- Gymnosperms are heterosporous, meaning they produce two types of spores: microspores and megaspores.
- Microspores develop into male gametophytes, while megaspores develop into female gametophytes.

3. **Formation of Female Gametophyte**:
- The megaspore is produced within a structure called the megasporangium.
- The female gametophyte develops from the megaspore and is multicellular. It contains archegonia, which are the female reproductive organs.

4. **Location of Female Gametophyte**:
- In gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is retained within the megasporangium.
- The ovule, which is the structure that contains the megasporangium, also plays a role in housing the female gametophyte.

5. **Eliminating Incorrect Options**:
- The ovary is absent in gymnosperms, so that option is incorrect.
- Microsporangiate refers to structures related to male gametophytes, thus it is not the correct answer.
- Archegonia are the female reproductive structures but do not house the female gametophyte; they are produced by it.

6. **Final Answer**:
- Therefore, the correct answer is that in gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is retained within the **megasporangium**.

### Final Answer:
In gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is retained within the **megasporangium**.

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