gametophytehaploid

The gametophyte is the haploid phase of a plant's life cycle, characterized by the production of gametes, which are the reproductive cells. In plants, the gametophyte is typically the dominant phase, meaning it is the visible part of the plant. The gametophyte produces male and female gametes, which fuse to form a diploid zygote. This zygote develops into the sporophyte, the diploid phase of the plant's life cycle, which produces spores through meiosis. The spores then develop into new gametophytes, completing the cycle. The gametophyte is crucial for plant reproduction and is found in various forms, including mosses, ferns, and seed plants. In seed plants, the gametophyte is reduced to a few cells, such as the pollen grain in the male reproductive organ and the embryo sac in the female reproductive organ. The study of gametophytes is important for understanding plant reproduction and evolution.