11.

5 DOMAIN EUKARYA:
KINGDOM PLANTAE

LEARNING OUTCOMES
a) Describe unique characteristics of
Plantae
b) Classifiy Plantae into 4 groups:
Bryophytes
Pteridophytes
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
OF PLANTAE
 Multicellular eukaryotes
 Autotroph
- contain photosynthetic pigments:
chlorophylls a and b, xantophylls,
carotenes
 Cellulose as major component of cell walls
 Food storage is starch
 Formation of cell plate during cytokinesis of
cell division
 Reproduction: sexually, asexually
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
OF PLANTAE
 Life cycle shows alternation of generations
- Life cycle of a plant which alternate
between multicellular haploid stage
(gametophye generation) and multicellular
diploid stage (sporophyte generation)
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
OF PLANTAE
- Haploid generation: gametophyte
generation that gives rise to haploid male
and female gametes by mitosis

- Diploid generation: sporophyte generation

that gives rise to haploid spores by meiosis
Alternation of Generations
Both gametophye and
sporophyte are very
different in morphology
(structure)
Alternation of Generations
 Alternation of Generations
(i) Diploid sporophyte:
- Has sporangium (multicellular organs that
produce spores)
- Within sporangium, diploid cells called
sporocytes (spore mother cells) undergo
meiosis and form the haploid spores
- Haploid spores divide mitotically and
grow into multicellular haploid
gametophytes
 Alternation of Generations

(ii) Haploid gametophytes:

- Produce the haploid male and female
gametes by mitosis
- Male and female gametes undergo
fertilization to form diploid zygote
- Zygote divide mitotically to produce a
multicellular diploid sporophytes
 CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTAE
Non-vascular Vascular
Bryophytes Seedless Seed
- Phylum Bryophyta
- Phylum Hepatophyta Pteridophytes
- Phylum Anthocerophyta - Phylum Lycophyta
- Phylum Pterophyta

Gymnosperms Angiosperms
(seed not enclose by ovary) (seed enclose
by ovary)
- Phylum Cycadophyta
- Phylum Coniferophyta - Class Dicotyledonae
- Phylum Ginkgophyta - Class Monocotyledonae
- Phylum Gnetophyta
 QUESTIONS
What would the human life cycle be like if we
have alternation of generations? Assume that
the multicellular diploid stage is similar in
form to an adult human.
11.5.1 BRYOPHYTES

• Habitat:
- moist and shady places
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

a) Describe the unique characteristics of

bryophytes
b) State the classification of bryophytes into 3
phyla:
 Phylum Bryophyta (Polytrichum sp.)
 Phylum Hepatophyta (Marchantia sp.)
 Phylum Anthocerophyta (Anthoceros sp.)
c) Describe the sexual life cycle of Polytrichum
sp. to
show alternation of generation
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BRYOPHYTES

• Dominant generation is gametophyte

 Large in size, long-lived
• Sporophytes are smaller in size, short-lived,
depend on gametophytes for nutrient and
water (gametophytes are able to carry out
photosynthesis)
Gametophyte & sporophyte of
Marchantia sp.

Male gametophyte
Gametophytes of Polytrichum sp.

Male gametophyte

Female gametophyte

Sporophyte of
Polytrichum sp.
 Sporophyte of Polytrichum sp.
Polytrichum sp. consists of seta and capsule
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BRYOPHYTES

• Non vascular plants

 Most lack of vascular tissues (xylem and
phloem) for transport and support
 Do not have true roots, stems, leaves
 Some have specialized conducting tissues
to transport water and organic compounds
- the cell walls lack of lignin
 Marchantia sp.

Thallus
(non-vascular leaves) Polytrichum sp.
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BRYOPHYTES

• Gametophytes consist of only one or a few

cell(s) thick
 So, all cells are placed close to water and
dissolved minerals (provide large surface
area to increase absorption of water and
minerals)
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BRYOPHYTES

• Most grow close to the ground, support by

rhizoids
 Anchor the bryophytes to substratum
 Do not play a primary role in water and
mineral absorption
– lack of specialized conducting cells

e.g. Marchantia sp.

 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BRYOPHYTES

• Watery medium is needed for both asexual

and sexual reproductions
 In asexual reproduction: dispersal of
gemmae from gemma cup needs watery
medium/raindrops (e.g. Marchantia sp.)
 In sexual reproduction: biflagellated
sperm cells need watery medium to swim
to archegonia
Gemma cup of Marchantia sp.
 Egg cell

biflagellate
sperms
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
BRYOPHYTES
• Haploid gametophytes produce the
gametangium
 Haploid gametes are produced and
developed within gametangium
 Two types of gametangium:
✎ Archegonium (female gametangium)
- Produce an egg cell @ oosphere
✎ Antheridium (male gametangium)
- Produce large numbers of biflagellated
sperm cells @ antherozoid
 Antheridia & archegonia of
Marchantia sp.

Antheridia Archegonia
Marchantia sp.
 CLASSIFICATION OF BRYOPHYTES
3 phyla:

Phylum Phylum Phylum

Bryophyta Hepatophyta Anthocerophyta
(mosses) (liverworts) (hornworts)

e.g. Polytrichum sp. e.g. Marchantia sp. e.g. Anthoceros sp.

 Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
• Haploid spore germinate and grow into haploid
threadlike protonemata.
• Haploid protonemata produce one or more
‘buds’.
• ‘Buds’ divide by mitosis and grow into separate
haploid male and female gametophytes.
 Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
• Mature male gametophyte form antheridium
while mature female gametophyte form
archegonium.
• Each antheridium produces many biflagellated
sperm cells and each archegonium produces one
egg cell.
Biflagellated
sperm cells
 Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
• Biflagellated sperm cells swim through a film of
water (raindrop) towards an archegonium to
fertilize the egg cell.
• Fertilization occur within archegonium and
producing diploid zygote
 Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
 Diploid zygote develops into diploid
sporophyte embryo by mitosis within the
archegonium.
 Diploid sporophyte grows a seta (long stalk)
that emerges from the archegonium.
 Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
 Attached by its foot, the young diploid
sporophyte remains nutritionally dependent
on the haploid gametophyte.
 The diploid sporophyte consist of foot, seta
and capsule (sporangium).
 Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
 In capsule, diploid sporocytes undergo
meiosis to produce haploid spores.
 When capsule is matured, its lid pops off and
peristome teeth release the haploid spores
gradually.
 Sporophyte of Polytrichum sp.
- Embedded in archegonium, the foot absorbs
nutrients from the gametophyte.
- Seta (stalk) conducts nutrients to the capsule
(sporangium)
- Capsule use nutrients to produce spores by
meiosis
Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.
Sexual Life Cycle of Polytrichum sp.

Diploid zygote
(2n)
 TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS FOR
BRYOPHYTES
(1) Multicellular, dependent embryo

- Diploid zygote develops into diploid

embryo by mitosis within the archegonium
- Gametophyte carry out photosynthesis
and provide developing embryo with
nutrients and water
 TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS FOR
BRYOPHYTES
(2) Water conservation by waterproof cuticle

- In some bryophytes, epidermis of leaves

and other aerial parts is coated with cuticle
to prevent excessive loss of water by
evaporation
- Thus, preventing the bryophytes from being
desiccated (drying out)
 TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS FOR
BRYOPHYTES
(3) Walled spores produced in sporangium
- Spores are haploid cells
- Walls of haploid spores contain
sporopollenin
 make the walls tough and resistant to
harsh environments
 enable the wind-carried spores to
disperse through air without being
desiccated
- The outer tissues of sporangium protect
spores until they are released into air
 TERRESTRIAL ADAPTATIONS FOR
BRYOPHYTES
(4) Presence of multicellular gametangium
- Gametes are produced within gametangia.
- Gametangia has a layer of sterile (non-reproductive)
cells that surrounds and protects the gametes
- Diploid zygote develops into embryo within the
female gametangium.
Thus, embryo is protected
during its development.
 QUESTIONS

Can bryophytes help prevent landslides on

tropical mountains?
11.5.2 PTERIDOPHYTES

•Habitat: most common in damp (moist) places.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

a) Describe the unique characteristics of

pteridophytes

b) State classification of pteridophytes into

2 phyla:
Phylum Lycophyta (Lycopodium sp. and
Selaginella sp. )
Phylum Pterophyta (Dryopteris sp.)
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
• Seedless plants (do NOT produce seeds)

• Have simple, lignified vascular tissues ( to

transport water and nutrients / minerals and
provide mechanical support).
 have lignified phloem and xylem
 but, vascular tissues is not well developed /
non complex vascular system
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
• Life cycle shows alternation of
generations
• Dominant generation is
sporophyte
 Because large in size and
long-lived

 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
• Gametophyte is small in size
and free living.
 Young sporophyte
dependent on gametophyte
for nutrition.
• Matured sporophyte is not
dependent on gametophyte
for nutrition because it can
carry out photosynthesis.
Dominant sporophyte

Selaginella sp. Lycopodium sp.

Dominant sporophyte of Dryopteris sp.
Gametophyte (prothallus) of Dryopteris sp.

**Fern gametophytes
(prothallus) are tiny
structures that often
grow on or just below
the soil surface
Sporophyte & gametophyte of Dryopteris sp.

***Young
sporophyte
depends on
gametophyte for
nutrition
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
 Sporophyte has true roots, stems
and leaves
 due to the presence
of vascular tissues
 Has stomata that allow
gaseous exchange and
transpiration
 Sporophyte has adventitious roots
 Sporophyte has water proof cuticle
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
 Reproduction:
Fertilization is fully
dependent on watery
medium (the flagellated
sperm cells must swim
through a film of water
to reach the egg cell)
Pteridophytes reproduce
sexually by producing
spores for dispersion
Reproduction needs
watery medium
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
• Two types of pteridophytes (based on
production of spores):
i) Homosporous
- Has one type of sporangium that
produces ONE type of spore
- e.g. Lycopodium sp. and Dryopteris sp.
ii) Heterosporous
- Has two types of sporangia that
produce TWO types of spore
(microspore and megaspore)
- e.g. Selaginella sp.
SPORANGIUM : Multicellular organs that produce spores
Cluster of sporangia: SORUS
- Sorus is located on
underside of sporophylls of
Dryopteris sp.
HOMOSPOROUS PTERIDOPHYTES
HETEROSPOROUS PTERIDOPHYTES
 CLASSIFICATION OF
PTERIDOPHYTES
i) Phylum Lycophyta
✎ e.g. Lycopodium sp. &
Selaginella sp.

ii) Phylum Pterophyta

✎ e.g. Dryopteris sp.
Phylum Lycophyta
Microphylls:
small, spine-shaped leaves
Sporophylls:
modified leaves that bear
sporangia
Strobilus:
group of sporophylls

homosporous
Phylum Lycophyta

heterosporous
Phylum Paterophyta
Dryopteris sp.
Fiddlehead of Dryopteris sp.
Fiddlehead of Dryopteris sp.
State the comparison between phyla in
pteridophytes.
COMPARISON BETWEEN PHYLA IN PTERIDOPHYTES

Similarities

i) Sporophyte is dominant generation

ii) Antheridia and archegonia grow on the
same gametophyte
iii) Water essential for fertilization
 COMPARISON BETWEEN PHYLA IN PTERIDOPHYTES

Phylum Lycophyta Phylum Pterophyta

Small, scaly leaves Fronds (leaves) @ pinnae
called sporophylls divided into leaflets @pinnules
Sporangia on sporophyll Cluster of sporangia @ sori
are grouped together are on the back of sporophyll
forming strobilus
Gametophyte body lack Gametophyte body @
of chlorophyll prothallus has chlorophyll for
photosynthesis
e.g. Lycopodium sp. e.g. Dryopteris sp.
Selaginella sp.
Identify each of the following structures
as haploid or diploid.
a) Sporophyte
b) Spore
c) Gametophyte
d) Zygote
e) Sperm
 QUESTIONS

i) What trait (s) allowed vascular plants to

grow tall, and
i) why might increased height have been
advantageous?