Question 7 of 10

In some pteridophytes the female gametophyte stays on the plant that produced it. Evaluate the Assertion and Reason.

• Assertion (A): In heterosporous pteridophytes such as Selaginella and Salvinia, the retention of the female gametophyte on the parent sporophyte is regarded as a precursor to the seed habit.
• Reason (R): In these plants the zygote develops into a young embryo within the female gametophyte while the gametophyte is still retained on the parent sporophyte.