Identify each of the following structures as haploid or diploid.

(a) sporophyte

(b) spore

(c) gametophyte

(d) zygote

Answer: a) Sporophyte - Diploid

b) Spore - Haploid

c) Gametophyte - Haploid

d) Zygote - Diploid

Explanation: Sporophyte is the diploid phase of the plant. It means it has 2 set of chromosomes (2n). Function of Sporophyte is to produce haploid spores.

Spores are haploid units of the plants. Spores are the reproductive units of the plant so they develop into new plant.

Gametophyte is the haploid phase in the life cycle of plant. There are two types of Gametophytes : Male gametophyte and Female gametophyte.

Zygote is the diploid unit of the plant. Which formed by the fusion of two gametes as the result of fertilization.

The sporophyte is diploid (2n), spores are haploid (n), gametophytes are diploid (2n), and zygote is diploid (2n).

Explanation:

Plants have 2 types of cell bodies - sporophytes and gametophytes. The sporophytes are diploid (2n) bodies of plants. They undergo meiotic cell division which produces haploid (n) spores. The haploid spores fall on the ground and develop into the gametophytes.

The gametophytes are haploid (n) little plants. It grows and releases two types of gametes - male gametes and female gametes. Both the male and female gametes are haploid (n) develops from haploid spores.

Then the male and female gametes fuse by process of fertilization. The fusion of haploid male and female gametes produces a diploid zygote (2n). A new plant is developed from this zygote by mitotic division.

This is the example of alternation of generation in plants where sporophyte gives rise to gametophytes and from zygote again sporophytes develop. These are different bodies of plants one is haploid and the other is diploid.