Chapter 21, Problem 5STP

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The fern is a vascular plant that does not reproduce by seeds or flowers but by spores. They are different from mosses in being vascular. Vascular plants have special tissues to conduct water and nutrients across the plant.

Answer to Problem 5STP

Correct option is, option (B), 12.

Explanation of Solution

Explanation for correct options:

(B), 12. Ferns contain sporangia that contain spore producing cells. These cells form haploid spores after meiosis. So, in the spores, the chromosome number gets reduced to half. Hence, option (B) is correct.

Explanation for incorrect options:

(A), 6. In ferns, the spores undergo meiosis to form haploid cells. Hence, option (A) is incorrect.

(C), 24. In ferns, the spores undergo meiosis to form haploid cells, leading to chromosome number gets reduced to half not double. Hence, option (C) is incorrect

(D), 48. In ferns, the spores undergo meiosis to form haploid cells, leading to chromosome number gets reduced to half not quadruple. Hence, option (D) is incorrect