Yes, seedless vascular plants do have a sporophyte.
Seedless vascular plants are characterized by having a life cycle where the sporophyte is the prominent phase.
The Dominant Sporophyte in Seedless Vascular Plants
According to the provided reference, in seedless vascular plants, the sporophyte became the dominant phase of the lifecycle. This is a significant evolutionary step compared to non-vascular plants (like mosses), where the gametophyte is dominant.
The sporophyte generation is typically the larger, more complex, and longer-lived stage that we commonly recognize as the plant itself (e.g., the frond of a fern). This stage is diploid, meaning its cells contain two sets of chromosomes.
While the sporophyte is dominant, the gametophyte stage (which produces gametes like sperm and eggs) is still present but is often small and short-lived. Water is still required for fertilization in these plants, and they often thrive in moist environments.
Examples of Seedless Vascular Plants
The reference mentions several examples of modern-day seedless vascular plants:
- Club mosses
- Horsetails
- Ferns
- Whisk ferns
These are all familiar plants where the visible plant body is the sporophyte.
Why the Sporophyte Dominance Matters
The dominance of the sporophyte stage in seedless vascular plants represents an adaptation that allowed plants to grow taller and develop more complex structures. The vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) within the sporophyte enables efficient transport of water and nutrients, supporting larger plant sizes.
This transition was a key step in the evolution of plants on land, paving the way for the eventual development of seed plants.
