During the life cycle of a plant, the plant alternates between two forms: the sporophyte generation and the gametophyte generation. So, a complete plant life cycle includes both generations.
| Characteristics | Sporophyte Generation | Gametophyte Generation |
|---|---|---|
| Ploidy (# of sets of chromosomes) | Diploid (2 sets of chromosomes) | Haploid (1 set of chromosomes) |
| Types of cell division and what they’re used for | Mitosis to grow Meiosis to produce haploid spores, which begin the gametophyte generation |
Mitosis to grow Mitosis to produce haploid gametes, which join together to form the sporophyte generation |
| How the generation begins | Begins when haploid gametes (sperm and egg) fuse to form a diploid zygote | Begins when the sporophyte produces a haploid spore |
| What it looks like in different kinds of plants | Most visible form in ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms Small structures on mosses and lycophytes that grow on the gametophytes |
Most visible form in mosses and lycophytes Small but independent structure in ferns’ very small structures in gymnosperms and angiosperms that are enclosed by the sporophyte |