Question

The antherozoids of fern are
(a)Uniflagellate
(b)Biflagellate
(c)Quadriflagellate
(d)Multiflagellate

Answer 1

Hint: Fern is a group of vascular plants that reproduce with sports and do not have seeds and flowers. They constitute specialized tissue that conducts water and nutrients in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase in their life cycle.

Complete answer:
The antherozoids of a fern are multiflagellate. It is a haploid structure or organ producing which contains male gametes and a structure containing more than one antheridia which is known as androecium. It is present in the gametophytic phase of cryptogams such as bryophytes and ferns. The male gametophyte is reduced to pollen grains and the antheridia are reduced to a single generative cell in the pollen grain. The generative cells get divided to give rise to sperm cells during the process of pollination. The female part in the antheridium in cryptogams is known as archegonium which is known as gynoecium in flowering plants. It consists of sterile cells and spermatophore genius tissue which form a central support structure around the spermatic genius tissue as a protective jacket and give rise to spermatids via mitotic cell division. The antheridium in bryophytes is born on an antheridiophore which is a stalk-like structure that carries the antheridium on its apex.

Additional information:
Ferns are distributed with the greatest abundance in the tropics and Arctic areas with about 230 species throughout the country. They constitute specialized tissue that conducts water and nutrients in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase in their life cycle. Some are used as food which includes various species. They are resistant to phytophagous insects. A gene which expresses the protein in an edible fern is transferred to cotton plants to become resistant to whitefly infestations.
So, the correct answer is option (D) 'Multiflagellate'.

Note: Ferns are there on earth for about 360 million years and were eaten by the dinosaurs. North America constitutes 441 varieties of native phones which are vascular and circulate water and nutrients throughout the veins.