Question

Please explain briefly what is alternation of generation in plants.

I could not understand it...

Answer 1

Zygote divides by mitosis to form a diploid sporophytic plant body. The sporophyte produces haploid spores by meiosis in spore mother cells. The spores divide by mitosis to produce gametophytic plant body. The gametophyte produces haploid gametes which again fuse to form diploid zygote. Thus, plants have both sporophytic and gametophytic generations, which alternate with each other to complete life cycle. Alternation of spore producing diploid sporophyte with the haploid gametophyte is called Alternation of Generations.