Main Difference

The main difference between the Gametophyte and the Sporophyte is that Gametophyte is the haploid phase of the plant’s life cycle whereas Sporophyte is the diploid phase of the life cycle of the plant.

Gametophyte vs. Sporophyte

There are different types of plants that exist on this earth. They have a complex life cycle in which all these types show alternation of generation. This alternation of generation shows haploid and diploid phases that alternate with each other. These phases are known as gametophyte and sporophyte, and both are multicellular structures. The gametophyte is a haploid phase in which haploid male and female gametes are produced whereas; sporophyte is a diploid phase in which diploid spores are produced. So, the gametophyte is known as the sexual phase during sporophyte as the asexual phase of the plant’s life. In gametophyte, gametes are produced by meiosis. These haploid male and female gametes fuse with each other to form a diploid zygote that develops into a sporophyte. Sporophyte than produces spores through mitosis that develop into gametophytes. So, in this way, these two generations alternate with each other. It shows that a plant generates two different types of plants with the same genetic material. Algae and bryophytes show a dominant gametophytic stage; on the other hand, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and angiosperms show a dominant sporophyte generation.

Comparison Chart

What is Gametophyte?

A gametophyte is the multicellular, haploid plant that is formed during the alteration of generations of plants and algae. It is developed through the germination of a meiospore. Gametophyte consists of the archegonium, i.e. a female sex organ, and the antheridium or male sex organ. Female gamete, i.e. an ovum or egg is produced in antheridium, on the other hand, male gamete, i.e. sperm is produced in archegonium. These two gametes fertilized in the archegonium to form a diploid zygote cell. That zygote than develops again into a sporophyte generation. The gametophyte is dominant in bryophytes and algae. Some bryophytes like liverworts etc. develop female and male gametophytes separately by the germination of megaspores and microspores respectively. In ferns, the gametophyte is not the prominent form of the plant body, but it is also independent of its sporophyte. The gametophyte is reduced into the microscopic level in pteridophytes and seed plants.

What is Sporophyte?

A sporophyte is a multicellular, diploid plant that is formed during the alternation of generation in plants and algae. It is developed through the zygote. Sporophyte has sporangium where meiosis occurs to form haploid spores, i.e. megaspores and microspores. These spores are haploid cells that develop into haploid gametophytes. Megaspores develop into female gametophytes whereas; microspores develop into male gametophytes. These spores consist of one cell that can change into another new plant without mating. During evolution, the sporophytic stage has become dominant over the gametophytic stage. The most primitive non-vascular plants, i.e. bryophytes consist of a sporophyte generation that completely depends on its gametophytic generation. But, in pteridophytes and higher plants, i.e. gymnosperms, and angiosperms, the sporophyte is the dominant form. The dominant sporophyte is differentiated into stem, root, and leaves.

Key Differences

Conclusion

Above discussion summarizes that gametophyte and sporophyte are the two phases of alteration of the generation that occur in plants and algae. The gametophyte is considered as a sexual, haploid phase that produces male and female gametes whereas, the sporophyte is considered as an asexual, diploid phase in which spores are produced. These two generations alternate with each other in the life cycle of a plant.

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