Practice question

Life cycle evolution in land plants shows progressive sporophyte dominance and gametophyte reduction correlating with vascular complexity and desiccation tolerance. In tracheophytes encompassing pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, diploid sporophyte is large, photosynthetically independent, long-lived, branched and produces spores through meiosis inside sporangia protected by sporopollenin. Gametophyte becomes microscopic and dependent in seed plants. Bryophytes contrastingly retain dominant haploid gametophyte bearing small dependent sporophyte. Sporophyte dominance correlates with lignin, cuticle, and complex organ differentiation enabling terrestrial dominance. This structural framework illustrates phylogenetic relationships and adaptive significance highlighted in competitive examinations focusing on comparative plant morphology and systematics.