Angiosperms and Gymnosperms Difference

May 09, 2023, 16:45 IST

Gymnosperms are plants that lack flowers or fruits but have unenclosed or "naked" seeds found on the surface of scales or leaves. Angiosperms, generally flowering plants, have seeds within an ovary (typically a fruit). Gymnosperm seeds frequently resemble cones. The endosperm in the seeds and the presence of flowers and fruits distinguish angiosperms from gymnosperms.

Both Angiosperms and Gymnosperms are modern-day variants of Plant Kingdom that dominate most of the forest region because of their special adaptations, fast reproduction and immense growth capacities. In this article, we will understand how these two varieties diverged from one another and their basic differences.

Plant Evolution History

The fossilised fern might be millions of years old. The earliest proof of ferns related to numerous contemporary families dates back more than 200 million years. When many current families of ferns first arose in the late Cretaceous, which ended 65 million years ago, this phenomenon known as the "great fern radiation" occurred. A watery green alga protist is regarded to be the source of plant evolution. Later, they developed vital terrestrial adaptations including vascular tissues, seeds, and flowers. These significant adaptations make plants far more successful and more suited for living on dry land.

Plants gradually underwent considerable modifications for life on land from a basic, green algal progenitor that existed in the ocean.

• The First Plants

Like the water algae known as stonewort, which is seen, the first plants were probably comparable to it. In contrast to most contemporary plants, stoneworts contain rhizoids, which resemble hairs in place of roots and stalks in place of rigid stems. However, a feature of stoneworts is the separation of the male and female reproductive systems. Sperm need at least a thin coating of wetness to swim to eggs for fertilisation. The first plants could have looked similar to stoneworts in all of these respects. Stoneworts are comparable to the first plant taxon, Charophyta. The oldest plants could be related to contemporary stoneworts.

• Life on Earth

Animals were already the most prevalent species in the water when the earliest plants began to develop. Additionally, plants were limited to the uppermost water layer with sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis. As a result, marine plants never took over as the dominating species. However, as plants arrived on the land, everything became completely open. There wouldn't be anything other species could eat if plants weren't growing on the land. Other species could only colonise the land once land plants had established themselves.

Plants first inhabited the earth 700 million years ago. The earliest fossilised land plant remains are thought to be 470 million years old. Most likely, the first terrestrial plants resembled contemporary plants known as liverworts.

Plant evolution made a significant leap when the land was first colonised. Up until that point, almost all life had developed in the ocean. Dry land was a whole different environment. The main issue was the dryness. It was really difficult even to take in enough water to keep alive. Early plants were kept low to the earth and tiny by this. For sperm to travel to eggs, water was also necessary for sexual reproduction. On top of that, the climate on land was unstable and harsh. Also potent and hazardous was the sun. Land organisms were at a high risk of mutation as a result.

• Vascular Plants Evolve

Plants evolved adaptations that helped them cope with these challenges on dry land. The development of vascular tissues was one of the earliest and most significant. Vascular tissues comprise a plant’s “plumbing system.” For photosynthesis, they transport water and minerals from the soil to the leaves. Additionally, they transport food (sugar dissolved in water) from photosynthetic cells to other cells in the plant for storage or growth. The emergence of vascular tissues altered the plant kingdom. The tissues allowed plants to grow large and tolerate periods of drought in hostile geographical conditions.

• This contemporary fern may have resembled early vascular plants.
• These early plants also developed lignin, leaves, roots, and a modified life cycle as adaptations to living on the land in addition to vascular tissues.
• Lignin is a strong hydrophobic carbohydrate molecule (“water fearing”). It gives stem vascular tissues more support. Additionally, it makes the tissues waterproof so they won't leak, which improves their ability to transfer fluids. Since most other creatures cannot degrade it, lignin helps shield plants from herbivores and parasites.
• Chloroplasts, which serve as food producers and sun collectors, are abundant in leaves. Initially, the leaves were extremely little, but they gradually became bigger.
• Vascular organs called roots may pierce rock and even dirt. 
• Numerous nonvascular plants perished when vascular plants became increasingly common.
• Plants with a vascular system were more resilient and able to reach greater heights. 
• In the Paleozoic Period, gymnosperms first arose, including conifers and ginkgo biloba. They reproduced by scattering "bare seeds," not embedded in blooms or fruit.
• The Mesozoic Period saw the later evolution of angiosperms. Angiosperms evolved a sophisticated vascular system, flowers, and fruit to adapt to a difficult terrestrial ecosystem. They spread quickly on land and reproduced by seed.

Diversity

Gymnosperms were the sole type of plant life on Earth a few hundred million years ago. Angiosperms began evolving between 250 and 200 million years ago. Angiosperms can now be considered the dominant plant life on the planet due to their increased distribution and population. Angiosperms have between 250,000 and 400,000 species and have a much wider variety of plants. They can live in every land or water environment, except the most hostile ones. Angiosperms can be either monocots or dicots.

Gymnosperm and Angiosperm Examples

Angiosperms include grasses, agaves (renowned for their agave nectar), lilies, orchids, and dicots like roses, peas, sunflowers, oaks, and maples.

Non-flowering evergreen trees like fir, spruce, and pine are examples of gymnosperms.

Reproduction

Angiosperm reproduction can be either unisexual or bisexual. Gametes are dispersed by the wind and by insect and animal pollinators drawn to the plants' blossoms. Male and female gametes are frequently present in flowers, and upon fertilisation, the ovules turn into fruit.

Cones contain the gymnosperms' gametes. According to the description, the pollen grains land and germinate directly on the ovules during single fertilisation. Only the wind can distribute pollen spores.

Uses

Angiosperms are the source of the majority of animal feed as well as almost all plant-based foods. Angiosperms include grains, fruits, legumes, nightshades (such as potatoes and tomatoes), gourds, and cabbages. Other angiosperms like cotton and flax produce paper and textiles. Hardwood flooring is made from angiosperms' hardwood.

Fewer than 1,000 of the tens of thousands of gymnosperm species are still alive. They inhabit environments that range from desert to semi-arid.

Anatomical Variations

Gymnosperms and angiosperms have a sporophyte-dominant life cycle since they are both vascular plants.

Gymnosperms have less complicated and less abundant tissue development than angiosperms. Angiosperms have hardwood stems, flat leaves in various forms, and triploid vascular tissue. Fruit and/or flower-bearing plants come in many variations, and as a result, their leaves, flowers, and fruits have a wide range of colours and forms.

Gymnosperms are haploid, softwood plants with spiky, needle-like leaves. Gymnosperms are "simpler" physically since they do not produce flowers or fruit and are often merely tall evergreens with brown cones while being of wide varieties.

Angiosperms and Gymnosperms Difference

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What distinguishes gymnosperms from angiosperms in terms of importance?

Ans. The main difference between gymnosperms and angiosperms is how the seeds are produced. Angiosperm seeds grow in the ovaries of flowers and are coated in fruit for protection. Gymnosperm plants don't have fruits or flowers, and their seeds are typically formed in strobili, which are unisexual cones.

Q2. Do gymnosperms have twofold fertilisation?

Ans. Gymnosperms do not have double fertilisation, a crucial stage in the life cycle of angiosperms. Unlike in angiosperms, where they are a component of the flower, the male and female gametophyte structures are found on separate male and female cones in gymnosperms.

Q3. Angiosperms: Do they produce seeds?

Ans. Vascular plants include angiosperms. They are made of leaves, roots, and stems. The seeds of angiosperms are located in flower, as opposed to gymnosperms like conifers and cycads. An ovary typically found in flowers is where angiosperm eggs are fertilised and turn into seeds.

Q4. What are the benefits of angiosperms over gymnosperms?

Ans. Gymnosperms cannot thrive in as many different settings as flowering plants. Gymnosperms mature more slowly than flowering plants, which also yield more seeds. Angiosperm woody tissues are likewise more intricate and specialised.