Question

How do bryophytes differ from tracheophytes?

Answer 1

Hint: Bryophyte is the group of plants which are mainly divided into three parts- the liverworts, the hornworts and mosses. They have rhizoids and no true roots. Tracheophytes on the other hand are also land plants and belong to the higher classification – Embryophyte, just like Bryophytes.

Complete answer:
-Bryophytes are land plants and there are generally three types of bryophytes found in the nature- the mosses, liverworts and hornworts whereas, three types of Tracheophyte are found in the nature- ferns, gymnosperms or angiosperms.
-Although these both divisions share the same higher classification, they both still differ in some aspects.
-Bryophyte is a group of generally terrestrial photosynthetic plants and they are non vascular in nature. Tracheophyte on the other hand, is a group of plants which has a well- developed vascular system having tracheids and tracheary elements.
-Bryophytes are commonly found in moist and shady places whereas tracheophytes are found in dry places as well.
-One more big difference between both the groups is the “alternation of generation”.
-When in bryophytes, the sporophytic generation develops its haploid in nature. The haploid meiospores give rise to gametophytic generation when germinates which are diploid.
-This diploid gametophytic generation divides through meiosis to form gametes and fusion of these gametes result in formation of zygote which further gives rise to the sporophytic generation.
-This cycle goes again and again with each generation alternating each other.
-The main plant body in tracheophytes is the sporophyte while in bryophytes it is the gametophytic plant body which is the main plant body.
-The gametophytic generation is reduced in tracheophytes and in bryophytes, sporophytic generation is reduced but this sporophytic generation is parasitic on the gametophyte and can’t live independently without it.
-Bryophytes are small in size and are several millimeters long but tracheophytes are large ferns and are generally many meters long.
-The plant body is not differentiated into root, stem and leaves in case of bryophytes but tracheophytes are differentiated into root, stem and leaves.

Note: The main difference between the Tracheophytes and Bryophytes is the lack of vascular system. The vascular tissues named- xylem and phloem are absent from the plant body of bryophytes while in tracheophytes, they are found there. The size of the leaf also differs a lot between both the plant group with bryophytes having generally small leaves and tracheophytes having large leaves. The name tracheophyte has arrived from the word “Tracheids” meaning having water conducting cells- xylem and phloem.