NEET 2026 Botany Question 111 Solution

In bryophytes and pteridophytes, gametophytes exist as independent free-living individuals (such as moss gametophores or fern prothalli). In gymnosperms and angiosperms, however, the gametophytes are highly reduced and lack independent existence. The male gametophyte (pollen grain) develops inside the microsporangium, and the female gametophyte is permanently retained inside the megasporangium (nucellus) on the sporophyte.

• • NCERT Plant Kingdom: "Unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, in gymnosperms the male and the female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence. They remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes."

Gymnosperms (from Greek: gymnos = naked, sperma = seed) are seed-bearing tracheophytes where the ovules are exposed on megasporophylls and not enclosed inside an ovary wall, both before and after fertilisation. Consequently, the seeds that develop are "naked" (not enclosed inside a fruit).

• • Angiosperms differ because their seeds are enclosed inside fruits.

Both Statement I and Statement II are canonically accurate according to standard plant morphology and taxonomy.

• • Matches official NTA final answer key Option A / (1).