4 public questions tagged with this topic.
Salvinia is a heterosporous pteridophyte that produces both microspores (male) and megaspores (female).
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom Pteridophytes - Structure and Life Cycle
Some pteridophytes (e.g., Selaginella, Salvinia) show heterospory, where microspores form male gametophytes and megaspores form female gametophytes. All gymnosperms are also heterosporous. Hence, the correct answer is "Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms".
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom Pteridophytes - Structure and Life Cycle
Megaspores derived via meiosis of diploid megasporocyte inside nucellus megasporangium enclosed within single integument, producing female gametophyte mother tissue ovule inserted on adaxial surface of ovuliferous scales composing seed cones female strobili persistent woody. Single surviving megaspore usually chalazal most proliferates into haploid multicellular gametophyte with archegonia containing egg cell. Pollen cones exclusively generate microspores not megaspores, anthers and stamens define angiosperm male andropetala structures not gymnosperm anatomy. Thus seed cone location ensures protection nutritional provisioning from sporophyte parent, retaining megagametophyte throughout development culminating seed dispersal after fertilization, exhibiting heterospory.
Ref: Campbell Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 30: Megaspores seed cones female strobili ovule nucellus location
1 MMC undergoes 1 meiotic division to produce 4 megaspores, of which only 1 is functional (monosporic development). Therefore, to get 100 functional megaspores, you need 100 MMCs undergoing 100 meiotic divisions.
Ref: Equation: 1 MMC -(Meiosis)-> 1 Functional Megaspore (+ 3 degenerated).
