gametofyyteiksi

Gametophyte is a term used in botany to describe the haploid phase of a plant's life cycle, characterized by the production of gametes. Gametes are reproductive cells that combine to form a zygote, initiating the diploid sporophyte phase. The gametophyte phase is dominant in many non-vascular plants, such as mosses and liverworts, where the gametophyte is the independent, photosynthetic stage. In vascular plants, like ferns and seed plants, the gametophyte is typically dependent on the sporophyte for nutrition and support. Gametophytes produce male and female gametes through the process of gametogenesis. Male gametes, or sperm, are typically motile and swim to the female gametes, or eggs, to facilitate fertilization. The resulting zygote develops into the sporophyte, which produces spores through meiosis, initiating the next cycle of the life cycle. The gametophyte phase is crucial for sexual reproduction in plants, ensuring the continuation of the species through the production of genetically diverse offspring.