HETEROSPORY Meaning and
Definition
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Heterospory is a botanical term used to describe the condition in plants where two types of spores are produced. The term "hetero" means different, and "spory" refers to spores. This phenomenon is primarily observed in ferns and seed plants, distinguishing them from other groups of plants known as homosporous species.
In heterosporous plants, the two types of spores produced are known as megaspores and microspores. Megaspores are relatively larger and produce female gametophytes, while microspores are smaller and produce male gametophytes. This division of spore types leads to the development of separate female and male reproductive structures.
The megaspores typically mature within specialized structures called megasporangia, while the microspores develop within microsporangia. As the spores mature, they are released from these structures and dispersed by various mechanisms, such as wind or water, to reach suitable environments for germination and gametophyte growth.
The separate female and male gametophytes produced from the megaspores and microspores, respectively, eventually give rise to the production of eggs and sperms, allowing for sexual reproduction to occur. This reproductive strategy promotes genetic diversity and contributes to the adaptation and evolution of heterosporous plants.
Overall, heterospory is a key characteristic of certain plant lineages and plays a crucial role in the reproductive biology and life cycles of these organisms.
Common Misspellings for HETEROSPORY
- geterospory
- beterospory
- neterospory
- jeterospory
- ueterospory
- yeterospory
- hwterospory
- hsterospory
- hdterospory
- hrterospory
- h4terospory
- h3terospory
- hererospory
- heferospory
- hegerospory
- heyerospory
- he6erospory
- he5erospory
- hetwrospory
Etymology of HETEROSPORY
The word "heterospory" is derived from Greek roots. It comes from the combination of "hetero", meaning different or other, and "spore", which refers to a reproductive cell. The term was coined by the 19th-century botanist George Campbell, who used it to describe the phenomenon of plants producing two different types of spores: megaspores and microspores.
Similar spelling words for HETEROSPORY
- heteroecious,
- heterosexism,
- heterosporous,
- heterozygosity,
- heterocycle,
- heterostracan,
- heterosomata,
- heteroscelus,
- heterocercal,
- heterostraci,
- heteroicous,
- heterosexual,
- heat rash,
- heterozygous,
- heterocyclic,
- heterograft,
- heterogenous.
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