what is the difference between a sporophyte and gametophyte in plants?

Question

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Answer 1

Plants undergo "alternation of generations" where they exist as haploid organsims (gametophytes) and diploid organsims (sporophytes). The difference between haploid and diploid is the number of copies of each chromosome, 1N for haploid and 2N for diploid

Answer 2

In plants that undergo alternation of generations, a gametophyte is the structure, or phase of life, that contains only half of the total complement of chromosomes:

The sporophyte produces spores, in a process called meiosis. These spores develop into a gametophyte. These spores and the resulting gametophyte have only half of the total complement of chromosomes.
The gametophyte produces male or female gametes (or both), in a process called mitosis. The fusion of male and female gametes produces a zygote which develops into the sporophyte.
In mosses (bryophytes) the gametophyte is the commonly known phase of the plant. An early developmental stage in the gametophyte of both mosses and ferns (immediately following the meiospore) is called the Protonema.

In most other plants the gametophyte is very small (as in ferns) or even reduced as in flowering plants (angiosperms), where the female form (ovule) is known as a megagametophyte and the male form (pollen) is called a microgametophyte.A sporophyte is the structure of a plant or alga that has a diploid set of chromosomes. It is seen in all plants and in some algae.

The sporophyte produces spores (hence the name), by meiosis. These spores develop into a gametophyte. Both the spores and the resulting gametophyte are haploid, meaning they only have one set of homologous chromosomes. The gametophyte produces male or female gametes (or both) by mitosis. The fusion of male and female gametes produces a zygote which develops into a new sporophyte. This cycle is known as alternation of generations.

In the normal course of events, the zygote and sporophyte will have a full set of chromosomes again. An exception is when a diploid and haploid gamete fuse, resulting in a triploid sporophyte, which will usually be sterile, as dividing three sets of chromosomes into two halves causes complications.

The sporophyte is the dominant form in algae, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms (flowering plants). Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) have a dominant gametophyte stage.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporophyte"

Answer 3

In plants that undergo alternation of generations, a gametophyte is the structure, or phase of life, that contains only half of the total complement of chromosomes:

The sporophyte produces spores, in a process called meiosis. These spores develop into a gametophyte. These spores and the resulting gametophyte have only half of the total complement of chromosomes.
The gametophyte produces male or female gametes (or both), in a process called mitosis. The fusion of male and female gametes produces a zygote which develops into the sporophyte.

A sporophyte is the structure of a plant or alga that has a diploid set of chromosomes. It is seen in all plants and in some algae.

The sporophyte produces spores (hence the name), by meiosis. These spores develop into a gametophyte. Both the spores and the resulting gametophyte are haploid, meaning they only have one set of homologous chromosomes. The gametophyte produces male or female gametes (or both) by mitosis. The fusion of male and female gametes produces a zygote which develops into a new sporophyte. This cycle is known as alternation of generations.

In the normal course of events, the zygote and sporophyte will have a full set of chromosomes again. An exception is when a diploid and haploid gamete fuse, resulting in a triploid sporophyte, which will usually be sterile, as dividing three sets of chromosomes into two halves causes complications.

The sporophyte is the dominant form in algae, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms (flowering plants). Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) have a dominant gametophyte stage.

Answer 4

Also, sporophytes reproduce asexually with spores. Gametophytes reproduce sexually with gametes that must join to make zygotes.

Sporophytes --> spores --> gametophytes --> gametes --> zygotes --> sporophytes ....