Comment on the lifecycle and nature of a fern prothallus.

Life Cycle:

• Fern shows diplo-haplontic life cycle.

• Diploid sporophyte represents the dominant, independent, photosynthetic plant body.

• The sporophyte bears sporangia which produces spores by meiosis.

• These spores germinate to form free living prothallus which represents a gametophyte.

• Sexual reproduction: syngamy results in formation of diploid zygote. Zygote germinates into a diploid sporophyte.

Prothallus:

• It represents the gametophytic phase.

• Multicellular, independent, green, photosynthetic thallus.

• It needs damp and shady places.

• Bears sex organs, rhizoids and food laden parenchymatous cells.