| Meiosis results in the production of four megaspores, containing half the number of chromosomes of the sporophyte. |
| Finally, greater moisture availability would enhance transfer of motile gametes, thereby leading to more successful sporophyte development. |
| Apospory is the development of 2n gametophytes, without meiosis and spores, from vegetative, or nonreproductive, cells of the sporophyte. |
| Ultimately the sporophyte becomes physiologically independent of the gametophyte, and the latter dies. |
| Thus in Pellia the nuclei of the gametophyte have eight chromosomes and those of the sporophyte sixteen. |
| The plant life cycle alternates between a diploid sporophyte and a haploid gametophyte generation. |
