Bryophytes

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Bryophytes

• Bryophyte is a traditional name used to


refer to all land plants that do not have
true vascular tissue and are therefore
called "non-vascular plants"
• They have no wood to lend them
structural support, nor do they have
large leaves or showy cones or flowers
• The study of bryophytes is called
bryology. Hedwig is called ‘Father of
Bryology’.
• The fossil record indicates that
bryophytes evolved on earth about 395
– 430 million years ago (i.e. during
Silurian period of Paleozoic era).
Bryophytes
• The division Bryophyta (Gr. bryon=moss)
includes over 25000 species of non-
vascular embryophytes such as mosses,
liverworts and hornworts.
• Bryophytes are small plants (2cm to
60cm) that grow in moist shady places.
They don’t attain great heights because
of absence of roots, vascular tissues,
mechanical tissues and cuticle. They are
terrestrial but require external water to
complete their life cycle.
• Hence, they are called “Amphibians of
plant kingdom”.
Salient features of Bryophytes
• Bryophytes grow in damp and shady
places.
• They follow heterologous haplodiplontic
type of life cycle.
• The dominant plant body is gametophyte
on which sporophyte is semiparasitic for
its nutrition.
• The thalloid gametophyte differentiated
in to rhizoids, axis (stem) and leaves.
• Vascular tissues (xylem and phloem)
absent.
Salient features of Bryophytes
• The gametophyte bears multi-cellular
and jacketed sex organs (antheridia and
archegonia).
• Sexual reproduction is oogamous type.
• Multi-cellular embryo develops inside
archegonium.
• Sporophyte differentiated into foot, seta
and capsule.
• Capsule produces haploid meiospores of
similar types (homosporous).
• Spore germinates into juvenile
gametophyte called protonema.
Two Views about Origin of Bryophytes
• A. Pteridophytic origin i.e.,
the bryophytes are the
descendants of pteri-
dophytes
• B. Algal origin i.e., the
bryophytes have arisen
from algae.
Pteridophytic Origin
• The basis of this theory lies on the similarity between the earliest vascular
plants, Rhyniopsida of the Upper Silurian to Lower Devonian age, and the
sporophytes of certain mosses (Andreaea, Funaria, Sphagnum, etc.) and
members of hornworts (Anthoceros, Dendroceros, etc.).
Similarities
• The members of Rhyniopsida are rootless (bearing rhizoids), leafless and
dichotomously branched shoots bear terminal sporangia.
• (b) The sporangia of Horneophyton and Sporogonites (plant showing
bryophytean affinity) are provided with columella.
• (c) The capsules of some members of bryophytes (Funaria, Sphagnum and
Anthoceros) comprised of photosynthetic tissue and are provided with
stomata. These are the common features of pteridophytes.
• (d)sex organs are jacketed
Algal Origin
The characteristics common for both the groups are
• Presence of thalloid gametophyte
• (b) Amphibian nature,
• (c) Similar photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids α, β),
• (d) Cell wall made up of cellulose,
• (e) Presence of filamentous protonema,
• (f) Starch as reserve food,
• (g) Presence of flagellated sperms, and
• (h) Water essential for fertilization.
Reproduction
• Vegetative Reproduction
• Sexual Reproduction
Vegetative Reproduction
• A piece breaks off from
gametophyte and then lands in a
suitable habitat will grow into a
new gametophyte .
• The breakage may be accidental,
such as animal trampling or erosion
leading to fragmentation of an
existing bryophyte colony.
Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction involves an alternation of generations between the


haploid gamete -producing stage (gametophyte) and the diploid organism
(sporophyte).
In the bryophytes, it is the haploid gametophyte that produces the leaves
and thali and therefore predominates.
The process requires the production of male gametes (sperm), female
gametes (eggs) and some means of getting the sperm to the eggs.
The gametes are produced on the gametophytes. The sperm are produced
within tiny, typically stalked, club-shaped structures called antheridia. Each
antheridium produces numerous sperm.
Sexual Reproduction
The eggs are produced in tiny, typically
somewhat flask-like structures called
archegonia. Each archegonium holds one egg
(in a swollen section called the venter). The
sperm enter through the channel in the
narrower, tubular section (or neck).
A fertilized egg in an archegonium develops
into the sporophyte. The sporophyte consists
of a spore-containing capsule which,
depending on the species, may be stalked or
stalkless. Each spore contains a mix of genes
from the two parents and on successful
germination will give rise to a new
gametophyte.
3 types of Bryophytes
• Mosses
• Liverworts
• Hornworts
Mosses
• Small, soft plants that are usually 1-10 cm tall.
• Typically grow close together in moist or shady areas.
• Some mosses are found on rocks and in arid locations.
• Flowerless and seedless
• With the appearance of having distinct stems and many tiny
leaves, moss often looks very soft and fluffy. The sporophytes
develop on the end of a long stem (called a seta) topped with a
spore-bearing capsule. Mosses have leaves that are spirally
arranged along the stem and a ‘vein’ that runs along the middle
of each leaf.
Liverworts
• Typically small; ranging from 2-20 mm wide with individual plants
less than 10 cm long Certain species may cover large patches of
ground, rocks, trees, or any other reasonably firm substance on
which they occur
• Flowerless, spore-producing plant – with the spores producing in
small capsules
• liverworts grow much closer to the ground, hugging the surface
with large, flat rubbery leaves. Their sporophyte form appears
as either a rubbery, green ‘flower’ or like a globe on a stem,
depending on the growth pattern.
Hornworts
• a flowerless, spore-producing plant - with the spores typically
produced in a tapering, horn-like or needle- like capsule which
develops from a flattish, green sheet
• Hornworts look fairly similar to liverworts in the gametophyte
stage, and they are generally blue-green in color. However, the
sporophyte generation gives them their name. A distinctive
long, thin, needle-like sporangium looks like a horn. These
bryophytes differ from all other plants as each cell only
contains a single large chloroplast. Similar to moss, hornworts
also have stomata on the sporophyte generation.
Importance of Bryophytes
Bryophytes as Fuel
Liverworts and mosses have long been
tried and used as a fuel in developed
countries like Finland, Sweden, Ireland,
West Ger-many, Poland and Soviet
Union.
Peat is suitable for production of low and
intermediate BTU gas as well as
hydrogen, ethylene, natural gas, and
methanol
Peat mosses are best suited for the
production of methane, and peat is likely
to become an important source of fuel
for production of heat,methane, or
electricity in the future.
Horticultural Uses
There is a long tradition of use of bryophytes in horticulture as soil
additives, because of their high water holding capacity and to air.
Peat is an important soil conditioner and is commonly used for
agricultural and horticultural purposes around the world.
Bryophytes as ornamental plant
• Bryophytes have also been used for green house crops, potted
ornamental plants and seedlings, and in garden soil.
As preservative agent
• Bryophytes have excellent power to
absorb moisture and can act as a
good preservative agent .
• They not only help to prevent food
but also help to preserve death
bodies.
Fibre industries
• Mosses are mixed with wool to make cheap clothes. •They are used
in decoration of net bags and other objects.
•Women also wear their steam like structure in their hair and as
decorations in bracelets
•Used in hiking boats to absorb odour and moisture.
•Used in lining of diapers to improve absorbing power.
Food AND SHELTER
• Many animals make use of bryophytes. Numerous invertebrates eat
bryophytes, lay their eggs on them or shelter in them. They form a
vital part of the construction material of the nest of some birds
SOIL CONSERVATION
• Bryophytes form a mat and prevent soil
erosion.
• The intertwined moss stems and rhizoids bind
soil particles firmly.
• Hold large amount of water and reduce run off.
Indicators of soil PH
• Liverworts and mosses are good indicators of soil ph.
• Some bryophytes can grow in narrow and specific range of pH so
therefore their presence can be used as an indicator of soil ph.
• For example Campylopus paradxus indicates acidic soil.
Indicator of acid rain
Mosses are good indicators of acid rain because they lack a protective
epidermis and cuticle hence are most susceptible than vascular
plants.

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