ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS

The alternation of generations (also known as alternation of phases[1] or metagenesis) describes the life cycle of plants,
fungi and protists. A multicellular diploid phase alternates with a multicellular haploid phase. The term can be confusing
for people familiar only with the life cycle of a typical animal. A more understandable name would be "alternation of
phases of a single generation" because we usually consider a generation of a species to encompass one complete life
cycle. The life cycle of organisms with "alternation of generations" is characterized by each phase consisting of one of
two distinct organisms: a gametophyte (thallus (tissue) or plant), which is genetically haploid, and a sporophyte (thallus
or plant), which is genetically diploid. A haploid plant of the gametophyte generation produces gametes by mitosis. Two
gametes (originating from different organisms of the same species or from the same organism) combine to produce a
zygote, which develops into a diploid plant of the sporophyte generation. This sporophyte produces spores by meiosis,
which germinate and develop into a gametophyte of the next generation. This cycle, from gametophyte to gametophyte,
is the way in which all land plants and many algae undergo sexual reproduction.

Fern

The ferns alternation of generation life cycle goes

from Sporophyte to Gametophyte. It starts out as a
spore. The spore goes through meiosis, and
germinates in to a mature gametophyte. After this
has happened the antheridium and archegonium
perform sexual reproduction creating fertilizing an
egg. The egg grows in to a sporophyte which grows
clusters of sporengia on the underside of its leaves.
The sporengia burst sending the spores cells into the
surroundings and the process duplicates itself.
(Purves 559)

Moss

The lifecycle of moss is very similar to that of the

fern. Its gametophyte stage is however longer than
that of the ferns. After the spore has landed in the
soil it begins to germinate through meiosis. It starts
to grow photosynthetic sprouts that help supply the
plant with energy as it gets ready to perform sexual
reproduction. Moss has to be in a moist location in
order to perform reproduction.

Alternation of Generations

The Sporophyte Generation

The plant we recognize as a fern is the diploid sporophyte generation.

Sori form on the fronds. Each contains many sporangia mounted on stalks.

Within each sporangium, the spore mother cells undergo meiosis producing four haploid spores each.

When the humidity drops,

 The thin-walled lip cells of each sporangium separate.

 The annulus slowly straightens out.
 Then the annulus snaps forward expelling the spores.

The Gametophyte Generation

If a spore is blown to a suitable moist location,

 It germinates into a filament of cells.

 This grows into a prothallus with
o rhizoids, which absorb water and minerals from the soil;
o archegonia, which produce a single egg (by mitosis);
o antheridia, which form swimming sperm (again, by mitosis).

Fertilization

If moisture is plentiful, the sperm swim to archegonia — usually on another prothallus because the two kinds of sex
organs generally do not mature at the same time on a single prothallus.

Fertilization restores the diploid number and begins a new sporophyte generation.

The embryo sporophyte develops a foot that penetrates the tissue of the prothallus and enables the sporophyte to secure
nourishment until it becomes self-sufficient.

Although it is tiny, the haploid fern prothallus is a fully-independent, autotrophic plant.

SPOROPHYTE

Among organisms which display an alternation of generations (such as plants, fungi, and certain algae), the individual
diploid organism that produces spores. A sporophyte develops from an embryo resulting from the union of two
gametes. Each of its cells has two sets of chromosomes, as opposed to the haploid gametophyte generation.

GAMETOPHYTE

Among organisms which display an alternation of generations as part of their life cycle (such as plants and certain
algae), the haploid organism that produces gametes. Each of its cells has only one, unpaired set of chromosomes, as
opposed to the corresponding diploid form of the organism, called the sporophyte. A gametophyte develops from
spores produced by the sporophyte. The gametophytes of homosporous plants are bisexual (produce both eggs and
sperm), while the gametophytes of heterosporous plants, such as all seeds plants, are unisexual (produce only eggs or
only sperm).

ARCHEGONIUM,  the female reproductive organ in ferns and mosses. An archegonium also occurs in some
gymnosperms, e.g., cycads and conifers. A flask-shaped structure, it consists of a neck, with one or more layers of cells,
and a swollen base—the venter—which contains the egg. Neck-canal cells, located above the egg, disappear as the
archegonium matures, thus producing a passage for entry of the sperm. The sperm are produced in the corresponding
male reproductive organ, the antheridium.

ANTHERIDIUM (pl. antheridia) The male sex organ of algae, fungi, bryophytes, clubmosses, horsetails, and ferns. It
produces the male gametes (antherozoids). It may consist of a single cell or it may have a wall that is made up of one or
several layers forming a sterile jacket around the developing gametes. Compare archegonium.