1.

INTRODUCTION

There are about 20,000 species of Bryophytes, plants that lack vascular tissue.
They are found throughout the world. Although more prevalent in moist and shady
areas, Bryophytes can be found in alpine and artic regions, where they are subjected
to freezing, and some in deserts, where they are desiccated most of the time. One of
the most abundant Bryophytes, Sphagnum, is found in bogs worldwide, and forms
peat, a source of fuel when compacted, and a soil texturizer when less "decomposed".
Associations of Bryophytes with mycorrhizae are common. The three phyla of
Bryophytes are distinguished from each other on variations of sporophyte structure
and gametophyte morphology. All Bryophytes have a predominant gametophyte
generation.
Bryophytes also need a moist environment to reproduce. Their flagellated
sperm must swim through water to reach the egg. So mosses and liverworts are
restricted to moist habitats. There are no mosses in the desert. But mosses are
surprisingly resistant to drying up, and can survive under very harsh conditions.
Mosses are the most abundant plants in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Asexual
reproduction in bryophytes is accomplished by fragmentation or by tiny vegetative
"sprouts" called gemmae, which form in special little structures called gemmae cups.
There are 3 objectives on this experiment which are to describe the plant life
cycle and the concept of the dominant generation. Secondly, to describe the life
histories and related reproductive structures and to distinguish features of the seedless
non vascular plant.

2.0

MATERIALS
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5

3.0

Living mosses (Polyticum sp.)

Compound microscope
Dissecting microscope
Slide and coverslip
Distilled water

PROCEDURE
3.1

Male

and

female

gametophytes

identified.

3.2

gametophytic generation of the moss differentiated.

Moss of female gametophytes examined. Paraphyses, archegonium,

3.3

neck canal, neck, egg, venter and stalk identified.

Sperm producing of the male gametophytes examined. Paraphyses,

3.4

anteridium, spermatogenous tissue, and stalk identified.

Mature sporophyte attached to the erect parent gametophyte. Calyptra,
operculum,peristome and spore identified.

Sporophytic

and

4.0

RESULTS

Figure 4.1

Figure 4.2

40 X magnification of Polyticum sp.

40 X magnification of Polyticum sp.

Under dissecting microscope

Under compound microscope

5.0

DISCUSSION

6.0

POST-LAB QUESTION

6.1

What function do you think the root-like rhizoids at the base of the
plant perform?
The function of rhizoids is to be the root system for bryophytes
plants without vascular tissue, such as mosses and liverworts. Like a
tangled mass of silken white hair, the rhizoids can tie a plant to its
substrate, whether it be soil, solid rock, or other material in which it
grows. Likewise, the greatly increased surface area of many strands of
hair efficiently soaks up water and dissolved minerals.

6.2

Explain why water must be present for the bryophytes to complete the
sexual portion of their life cycle.
The male sex cells,androcytes of bryophytes are motile and require a
medium to swim in to reach the female sex organ for fertilisation.
Hence water is essential as it becomes the medium for the androcyte
to swim.

6.3

Describe the difference between a sporophyte and gametophyte.

Sporophyte:
1. It is an independent plant with diploid chromosome number.
2. In algae, the sporophyte is confined to zygote. In bryophytes, the
sporophytes are a complex structure but is dependent on gametophyte.
3. In pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms the sporophyte is
dominat.
4. In lower groups of plants, sporophyte reproduces by spores spores
that give rise to gametophyte.
5. In higher plants sporophyte performs vegetative and sexual
reproduction.

Gametophyte:
1. It is an independent plant with haploid chromosome number.
2. In alga those and bryophytes the gametophyte is dominant.
3. In pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, the gametophytes
are very much reduced.

4. In lower group of plants, gametophyte reproduces vegetatively,

asexually and sexually. Vegetative and asexual reproduction produces
gametophytes whereas sexual reproduction produces zygote, which
represents the sporophyte.
5. In higher plants, the gametophyte represents the gametes only
which fuse to form sporophyte.

7.0

CONCLUSION

8.0

REFERENCES

9.0

APPENDICES

Figure 8.1

Figure 8.2

40 X magnification of Polyticum sp.

Under dissecting microscope

40 X magnification of Polyticum sp.

Under compound microscope