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How Fern, Moss, and Fungi Reproduce

They reproduce by spore formation. Spore formation or sporulation is common among fungi and
simple plants like mosses and ferns. A spore contains cells enclosed in thick case and held together
by a structure called sporangium. Spore are light and can be easily dispersed by wind from one
place to another. The spores germinate into new plants as they land on an environment with
favorable conditions.

Most fungi like the bread mold (Rhizopus) reproduce by spore formation. Mosses and ferns include
spore formation in their complex life cycles.

Spore Formation or Sporulation (ABC)

A. Spore Case of B. Spore Case of Plants A. Spore Case on the


Rhizopus Underside or a Mature
Fern Plant

Mosses and Fern

Both mosses and ferns are groups of plant that employ both modes of reproduction. They have life
cycles that alternate sexual and asexual reproduction: a sexual gamete-producing stage and an
asexual spore-producing stage. These are called alteration of generations.

Mosses

Mosses lack the specialized conducting tissues of


higher plants, so the transport of materials
through the plant is relatively inefficient.
Mosses, therefore, are small in size. They require
a moist environment for reproduction and are
found on the damp floor of the forest, on shady
rocks, and in swamps.

In mosses, there are separate male and female


gametophytes. The male reproductive organ is
called the antheridium and the female
reproductive organ is called the archegonium. Each organ produces gametes. Sperms released
from the antheridium of a male plant swim through rain or dew to reach the eggs in the
archegonium of the plant.
Fertilization of the egg produces a diploid sporophyte that grows directly out of the achegonium.
The sporophyte is a single leafless stalk that is dependent on the leafy green gametophyte for
nourishment. The sporophyte obtain its nourishment by means of a structure called a foot, which
grow down into the gametophyte tissue. At the tip of the mature sporophyte, a cylindrical capsule
develops. Within the capsule, many monoploid spores are produced these spores are released, and
when they germinate, they form new gametophyte plants, completing the life cycle.

Ferns

In ferns, unlike mosses, the leafy green dominant generation is the sporophyte. The diploid
sporophyte consists of an underground stem called a rhizome that grows just beneath the surface
of the soil. From the lower surface of the rhizome, true colors develop which anchor the plants and
absorb water and minerals. From its upper surface the rhizome bears large leave called fronds.

On the underside of some fronds are rows


of small dots called sori. The spores are
eventually released, and under favorable
conditions they germinate. The germinating
spore forms a small, heart-shaped structure
called a prothallus, which is the monoploid
gametophyte.

Fungi

Fungi form different kinds of spores. As a matter of facts among fungi, any part of the body that can
form into a new plant called a spore. Spore can be formed sexually and asexually.

The fungus Rhizopus produces spores at the tip of a specialized hyhpa.

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