Select the correct statement contrasting gametophytes and sporophytes.

A) Sporophytes are vascular, whereas gametophytes are nonvascular.

B) Sporophytes are diploid, whereas gametophytes are haploid.

C) Sporophytes are larger than gametophytes.

B) Sporophytes are diploid, whereas gametophytes are haploid.

Explanation:

Sexually-reproducing organisms like plants are characterized by the alternation between a diploid and haploid phase in their reproductive life cycle. The sporophyte is the spore-producing main body of most plants. It is diploid (2n) in chromosomal number.

The diploid sporophytic cells undergo meiosis to produce haploid spores. These spores eventually grow into an haploid (n) gametophyte. The gametophyte is responsible for producing the gametes (sperm and egg) of the organism. These haploid gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote that grows into the diploid sporophyte.