Botany and Plant Science

Gymnosperm generally lacks xylem vessels and companion cells in phloem as it grows in a cold and dry climate and they didn't evolve to have vessels and vessels are considered as advanced elements of xylem. And companion cells in phloem assist active transport of minerals which is absent in Gymnosperm.

Zygotes do not undergo reduction division immediately. They produce a multicellular body called a sporophyte. The sporophyte is not free-living but attached to the photosynthetic gametophyte and derives nourishment from it. Some cells of the sporophyte undergo reduction division (meiosis) to produce haploid spores. So, the correct option is "A" (Funaria).

In Funaria, the rhizoids are multicellular, branched, and possess oblique septa.

Sphagnum do  not decay readily because of the phenolic compounds embedded in the moss's cell walls. Peat moss can also acidify its surroundings by taking up cations, such as calcium and magnesium and releasing hydrogen ions. Due to presence of hyaline cells, they have the large water-holding capacity.

The Funaria plants are monoecious and autoecious, i.e., male (antheridia, club shaped) and female (archegonia, flask shaped) reproductive organs are produced on, the same plant but on different branches. 

• Moss peat is decayed dried sphagnum moss. It is hygroscopic, i.e. it has the ability to hold water either by absorption or adsorption. Its use as packing material for sending flowers and live plants to distant places helps to keep flowers and plants fresh.
• Hence Moss peat is used as a packing material and for sending flowers and live plants to distant places because it is hygroscopic.
• So, the correct answer is 'Hygroscopic'.

Sporophyte of moss differentiates into foot, seta and capsule. The foot embedded in the female receptacle and absorbs inorganic nutrients. Seta is a long stalk with a pear-shaped capsule by its tip. Capsule has 3 parts-basal apophysis, central theca and terminal operculum.

Funaria is both monoecious and autoecious. The antheridium (male sex organ) are born on different heads of the same plant. Hence, it is both autoecious and monoecious.

Funaria is monoecious and autoecious i.e., male and female reproductive structures develop on different branches of the same plant. Monoecious means both male and female sex organs are borne on the same plant body.

The peristome lies immediately below the operculum. It consists of two sets of long, conical teeth, one within the other. There are sixteen teeth in each set. The teeth of both the sets are on the same radii and thus opposite to each other.

When the mature capsule begins to dry up the thin walled cells of the annulus break and the operculum is thrown away. Dropping off the operculum is assisted by the outward hygroscopic movement of the underlying peristomial teeth. Due to this movement, slits between the inner thin walled peristomial teeth become wider and spores escape gradually through these slits. In a wet atmosphere, the wet peristomial teeth bend inwards and thus closing the slits and prevent the escape of spores. The seta of the mature sporophyte also exhibits hygroscopic movements. In dry weather, by loosing water, it twists and bents, thus helping in dispersal of spores.

Spore is the first cell of gametophytic generation. On a suitable damp habitat, a meiospore of Funaria germinates into a filamentous green alga-like structure called protonema. Protonema has green epiterranean chloronemal branches (chlornema) and non-green subterranean rhizoidal branches (caulonema). The protonema of moss, represents the juvenile stage of gametophyte. 

The haploid phase in the life cycle of Funaria is represented by independent leafy gametophyte. The gametophyte is developed from the spore.

The sporogonium of Funaria is attached to the gametophyte and derives water and minerals from it, though it can perform some photosynthesis.