Numerous antherozoids are produced in the antheridia and they swim through the covering film of water to reach the archegonia, each of which contains a single egg cell. |
Fern gametes are free-swimming and a thin film of water is required for the male gametes to travel from the antheridia into the neck of the archcgonia to fertilize the eggs. |
Each antheridial chamber incorporates several antheridia, all of which are developed from one antheridial initial. |
Meiosis occurs just before mating in well-differentiated oogonia and antheridia. |
The parent also contains antheridia which produce sperm and an oogonium which produces the egg. |
Since the asexual gametophyte does not form antheridia or archegonia, crosses to confirm its genotype could not be performed. |