In what phase do mosses spend most of their life cycle?
a. gametophyte
b. sporophyte
c. female
d. male
a. gametophyte
The correct answer is a. gametophyte.
Mosses spend most of their life cycle in the gametophyte phase. In this phase, mosses are predominantly haploid and comprise the familiar green, leafy structures we see. They produce reproductive cells called gametes, which are either sperm or eggs. The gametophyte phase is where fertilization occurs and gives rise to the sporophyte phase, which is the diploid stage. However, the gametophyte phase is more dominant and longer in duration than the sporophyte phase.
To determine in which phase mosses spend most of their life cycle, we need to understand the life cycle of mosses. Mosses have a life cycle that alternates between two distinct stages: the gametophyte stage and the sporophyte stage.
The gametophyte is the more prominent and long-lasting stage in the life cycle of mosses. It is the reproductive phase, where individual moss plants produce structures called gametangia. Gametangia are responsible for producing gametes, which are the reproductive cells needed for sexual reproduction in mosses.
On the other hand, the sporophyte stage in mosses is relatively short-lived compared to the gametophyte. The sporophyte is produced when the gametophyte undergoes fertilization, resulting in the formation of a sporophyte capsule. This capsule contains spores that are released into the environment to begin a new cycle of growth.
Based on this information, the correct answer to the question is:
a. gametophyte