Question

explain why water is more important in the reproductive life cycle of nonvascular plants.

Answer 1

Sexual reproduction in a nonvascular plant is a two-part life cycle known as alternation of generations. It is also called metagenesis or heterogenesis. It produces spores in the asexual sporophyte stage and produces sperm and eggs in the sexual gametophyte stage. The gametophyte stage is the dominant part of life cycle of a nonvascular plant. During this sexual stage of reproduction, the sperm needs water as a medium for swimming to the egg and fertilization. It is similar to humans, each sperm has a small tail known as flagella, which propels it. Therefore, nonvascular plants exist in a variety of climates and prefer moist surroundings. The sperm waits for rain or a drop of dew in the dry climates and dry conditions.