Question

Jacket of fern antheridium is composed of
A. 2 cells
B. 3 cells
C. 4 cells
D. 5 cells

Answer 1

Hint: A fern is a member of vascular plants belonging to the phylum Pteridophyta. These plants reproduce with the help of spores. These plants do not have seeds and flowers.

Complete answer:
Fern Antheridium:

1. The antheridium is male reproductive organs of the ferns.
2. Antheridium is a sperm producing organ.
3. Antheridium consists of a jacket of sterile cells (that are not fertile) outside with fertile cells (sperm producing cells) inside.
4. Sterile cells of the jacket provide central support structure.
5. Jacket of the fern antheridium comprises 3 cells.
6. Antheridium can be sunken as in family Ophioglossaceae or protruding.
7. Antheridia vary in size from species to species.
8. Fertilization is achieved by the ejection of sperms of antheridia.
9. Sperms are the male gametes or sex cells.
10. The antheridium is a haploid structure which means that it has only one set of chromosomes. 11. The structure which contains one or more antheridia is called as androecium.
12. Antheridium is the gametophytic phase of the ferns that are cryptogams (seedless plants).
Therefore, it has been clear from the above discussion that the jacket of fern antheridium is composed of 3 cells.

Hence the correct answer is OPTION(B)

Note: In ferns the sporophyte phase is the dominant one. Ferns have big complex leaves which are called as the megaphylls. Ferns can be used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil.