Gametophyte (Gr. Gamete — Woman, Phyton — Plant)

Gametophyte

A gametophyte is a haploid gamete-forming stage (sexual generation) in the life cycle of a plant.

The term "gametophyte" comes from the Greek words "gamete" - wife and "phyton" - plant. This is due to the fact that at the gametophyte stage, female and male gametes (sex cells) are formed in plants.

The gametophyte develops from a spore formed by meiosis on the sporophyte, the diploid spore-forming stage of the life cycle. Since reduction division occurs during meiosis, the spore contains a haploid set of chromosomes. The spore develops into a gametophyte, which produces male and female gametes. During fertilization, a diploid zygotic embryo develops from gametes, giving rise to a new sporophyte.

Thus, the alternation of haploid and diploid phases (gametophyte and sporophyte) is characteristic of the plant life cycle. The gametophyte plays a key role in ensuring sexual reproduction and the transmission of hereditary information to the next generation.