The main difference between sporophyll and sporangia is that sporophyll are the modified leaves that bear sporangia, whereas sporangia are reproductive structures that produce spores.
Sporophyll and sporangia are two reproductive structures that produce spores. Therefore, they involve in the reproduction of plants.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Sporophyll
– Definition, Facts, Features
2. What are Sporangia
– Definition, Facts, Features
3. Similarities Between Sporophyll and Sporangia
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Sporophyll and Sporangia
– Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Sporophyll and Sporangia
– Answers to frequently asked questions
Key Terms
Sporangia, Sporophyll
What is Sporophyll
Sporophyll is a leaf-like structure that produces spores. There are two types of sporophylls: megasporophyll and microsporophyll. Megasporophyll is a type of leaf-like structure produced by heterosporous plants such as seed plants, lycophytes, and some ferns. Generally, it produces megasporangia, sacs that produce megaspores of female spores. Moreover, in seed plants, the ovule serves as the megasporangium. Ovules occur inside the ovary in angiosperms and inside the female cone in gymnosperms.
Figure 1: Sporophyll
Meanwhile, microsporophyll is the other type of leaf-like structure produced by heterosporous plants. It produces microsporangia, the sacs that produce microspores or the male spores. Generally, in some plants, such as cycads, ferns, and lycophytes, sporophylls aggregate into strobili, which are distributed singly among sterile leaves.
What are Sporangia
Sporangia are the structures that enclose spores. they can be either unicellular or multicellular. Therefore, there are two types of sporangia: unilocular sporangia and plurilocular sporangia. Unilocular sporangia are a type of sporangia produced by brown algae, Ectocarpus. Unilocular sporangia consist of an enlarged, single cell, which undergoes meiosis to produce haploid zoospores. The unilocular sporangia develop from the terminal cells of the small branchlets. The terminal cell increases in size gradually and becomes ellipsoidal. A series of mitotic cell divisions follow the meiotic cell division of the unilocular sporangia and produce 32-64 zoospores. These zoospores are haploid. The zoospores of the unilocular sporangia are called meiozoospores since they are produced by meiosis.
Figure 2: Spores
Plurilocular sporangia are the other type of sporangia produced by the brown algae, Ectocarpus. Plurilocular sporangia also develop from the terminal cells of the branchlets. These are spherically elongated structures. A row of 5-12 cells is produced in the plurilocular sporangium. Then vertical mitotic cell divisions start from the median cell of the row. Ectocarpus produces unilocular sporangia at 13 °C and plurilocular sporangia at 19 °C.
Similarities Between Sporophyll and Sporangia
- Sporophyll and sporangia are two reproductive structures that produce and store spores.
- Spores are haploid structures that germinate to produce a new organism.
Difference Between Sporophyll and Sporangia
Definition
Sporophyll refers to a spore-bearing and usually greatly modified leaf. In contrast, sporangia refers to a receptacle in which asexual spores are formed in ferns and lower plants.
Structure
Sporophyll is a leaf-like structure, while sporangia are capsule-like structures.
Occurrence
Sporophyll occurs on the stem, while sporangia occur in leaf-like structures.
Significance
Sporophyll are the modified leaves that bear sporangia, while sporangia are reproductive structures that produce spores.
Function
Sporophyll supports and protects sporangia while sporangia produce, develop, and disperse spores.
Ploidy
Sporophyll is diploid, while sporangia are haploid.
FAQ: Sporophyll and Sporangia
What is the difference between spores and sporangia?
Certain plants contain structures called sporangia. They make and store spores. spores are haploid structures that germinate to produce new organisms.
What is the difference between sporangia and strobili?
Specialized leaves that produce spores are sporophylls. The tight arrangement of spores around a central stalk is called strobilus.
What is the difference between sporophyll and cone?
The modified leaves that partially cover the seeds are sporophylls in gymnosperms. The cone forms when the sporophylls are tightly packed around the median stalk.
Conclusion
In brief, sporophyll and sporangia are two reproductive structures that occur in plants. Sporophyll is a modified leaf that bears spores. It supports and protects sporangia. In comparison, sporangia are reproductive structures that produce spores. Spores are haploid structures that germinate to produce new plants. Therefore, the main difference between sporophyll and sporangia is their structure and function.
References:
- (2022j, July 31). 9.12: Gymnosperms. Biology LibreTexts.
Image Courtesy:
- “Fern Sori” By Luinfana – Own Work (CC-BY SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Fern sporangia in Saratoga CA” By Catleeball – Own Work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
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