Title: Life Cycle of Bryophytes - Meaning & Life Cycle - Biology Reader
Headings: Life Cycle of Bryophytes
Life Cycle of Bryophytes
Content: Life Cycle of Bryophytes
Meaning of Bryophytes
Life Cycle
Asexual Reproduction
Sexual Reproduction
Gametophyte Stage
Sporophyte Stage
Conclusion

Content: A stalk appears as a slender filament that attaches to the sporangium and originates from the foot cell. A spore capsule appears as a tight cap ( calyptra) that comprises a layer of sterile protective cells around an embryonic sporophyte, at the opposite end of foot. A spore capsule encloses a sporangium sac that holds the heterospores, which function as sexual dispersal units. The spore-producing cells go through meiotic cell division to form spores (haploid). The spore formation occurs, when the foot cell uptakes the nutrients from the gametophyte, and then conducts it to the spore capsule via long stalk or seta. A spore capsule comprises a layer of sterile cells, second layer of elaters that are hygroscopic or absorbs moisture from the surrounding. The hydrogroscopic movement of the cells within the spore capsule results in flicking of the spores upward and outward. Unfortunately, the spore capsule ruptures, as the spores attain maturity and move freely in the environment as dormant spores. The life cycle of bryophyte continues once the dormant spore starts germinating into protonema. Conclusion
Therefore, we can conclude that the gametophyte phase contains haploid cells that possess an unpaired number of chromosomes.