Juvenile state of moss is

Options

A. Protonema
B. Capsule
C. Prothallus
D. all

Answer

To solve the question "Juvenile state of moss is," we need to identify the correct term that describes the early developmental stage of moss. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand the Terms
- **Juvenile State**: This refers to the earliest stage of development in an organism's life cycle. In the context of moss, we are looking for the juvenile form of its gametophyte.

### Step 2: Identify the Life Cycle of Moss
- Mosses are bryophytes, and their life cycle includes two main stages: the gametophyte and the sporophyte.
- The gametophyte is the dominant stage in mosses, and it develops from spores.

### Step 3: Recognize the Juvenile Form
- The juvenile stage of the moss gametophyte is known as **protonema**.
- Protonema is a filamentous, green structure that develops from the germination of moss spores.

### Step 4: Characteristics of Protonema
- Protonema is characterized by being green and filamentous, and it contains chlorophyll, allowing it to perform photosynthesis.
- This structure is crucial for the growth of the mature gametophyte, which will eventually develop into the leafy stage of the moss.

### Step 5: Eliminate Incorrect Options
- **Capsule**: This is part of the sporophyte stage, not the juvenile stage.
- **Prothelous**: This term refers to the gametophyte of pteridophytes (ferns), not mosses.

### Conclusion
The juvenile state of moss is **protonema**.