Question

Vegetative reproduction in funaria takes place by
(a) Primary protonema
(b) Gemmae
(c) Secondary protonema
(d) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Mosses reproduce asexually by vegetative propagation like using buds, and develop by dividing into small fragments and or from a modified bud called gemmae.

Complete step by step answer:
The gametophyte is the predominant stage in the life cycle of mosses which consists of two stages namely the juvenile stage adult leafy stage. In the juvenile stage protonema directly develops from spore and in the adult leaf stage, gametophore develops from protonema as a lateral adventitious bud. Vegetative reproduction in mosses is by fragmentation, gemmae formation, and budding in secondary protonema. Funaria is one of the examples of mosses.

Additional information:
- Bryophytes are archegoniate, embryophyte, and tracheophytes cryptogams which are further divided into three classes namely liverworts, hornworts, and mosses
- They are commonly grown in moist shaded areas of hills.
- They grow on both land and water so, they are considered as amphibians of the plant kingdom
- The predominant stage in the life cycle of mosses is the gametophyte stage which contains two stages juvenile stage and adult leaf stage. Protonema is present in the juvenile stage that is developed from the spores directly; later this protonema develops as lateral adventitious buds called gametophore.
- The buds formed from the secondary protonema i.e, from the adult leaf stage develops by the vegetative reproductive process called budding
- Fragmentation, gemmae formation are the other types of vegetative reproduction types seen in mosses
- Sexual reproduction in mosses is by sporulation. Antheridia and archegonia are sex organs.
- Some of the examples of mosses are funaria, polytrichum, sphagnum.
So, the correct answer is ‘All of the above’

Note:
- The common name of funaria, polytrichum, sphagnum is cord moss, hair cap moss, and peat moss respectively.
- The sporophyte in mosses is more complicated than in liverworts.
- Mosses contain peristomial teeth for the dispersal of spores.