SSC CGL 2023 PYQ — Question 31

The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Vascular plants.

• The dominance of the sporophyte stage in vascular plants is due to its larger size, greater complexity, and ability to support more advanced adaptations for survival and reproduction in terrestrial environments.
• This dominance is a key feature that distinguishes vascular plants from non-vascular plants, where the gametophyte stage is more prominent.
• Examples
• Ferns: In ferns, the sporophyte is the large, leafy plant that we commonly recognize, while the gametophyte is a small, heart-shaped structure called a prothallus.
• Seed Plants: In seed plants (both angiosperms and gymnosperms), the entire plant is a sporophyte, including structures such as flowers or cones. The gametophytes (pollen grains and ovules) are much smaller and dependent on the sporophyte.