Which term describes the diploid, or spore-producing, phase of a plant or organism?

Which term describes the diploid, or spore-producing, phase of a plant or organism?

• A. Sporophyte
• B. Gametophyte
• C. Zygote
• D. Meristem

Answer: (A)

In plants and some algae, life cycles alternate between a diploid sporophyte and a haploid gametophyte. The diploid phase that produces spores through meiosis is the sporophyte. Those spores are haploid and grow into the next stage, the multicellular haploid gametophyte, which then makes gametes by mitosis. Fertilization restores diploidy, forming a zygote that develops into a new sporophyte. Meristem is simply a growth tissue, not a life-cycle phase. So the diploid, spore-producing phase is the sporophyte.

In plants and some algae, life cycles alternate between a diploid sporophyte and a haploid gametophyte. The diploid phase that produces spores through meiosis is the sporophyte. Those spores are haploid and grow into the next stage, the multicellular haploid gametophyte, which then makes gametes by mitosis. Fertilization restores diploidy, forming a zygote that develops into a new sporophyte. Meristem is simply a growth tissue, not a life-cycle phase. So the diploid, spore-producing phase is the sporophyte.