Haplodiplonttic

Haplodiplontic is a term used in botany to describe a type of life cycle found in certain plants, particularly in the division Bryophyta, which includes mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. This life cycle is characterized by the alternation of generations, where the dominant phase is diploid (2n), and the gametophyte phase is haploid (n). The diploid phase produces spores through meiosis, which then develop into haploid gametophytes. The gametophytes produce gametes (eggs and sperm) through mitosis, which fuse to form a diploid zygote. This zygote then develops into a new sporophyte, completing the life cycle. The sporophyte is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrition and water, which is why the gametophyte is the dominant phase in the life cycle of haplodiplontic plants. This life cycle is distinct from the more typical alternation of generations seen in seed plants, where the sporophyte is the dominant phase.