Lifecycle of Riccia
Lifecycle of Riccia has two distinct phases called haploid i.e. gametophytic and diploid i.e.
saprophytic. These phases alternate with each other.
Reproduction: The vegetative plant is gametophyte which reproduces by vegetative and sexual
methods. Asexual reproduction occurs only in saprophytic plant.
(1) Vegetative Reproduction: It takes place by:
(i) By Progressive growth of apical region and death of older region or by decay method. When the
plant becomes mature the older parts of thallus die and decay, the younger parts separate from
older ones and lead independent life.
(ii) By adventitious branches formation: In some species adventitious branches arise from neutral
surface of thallus and the separation of these branches results in the formation of new thalli.
(iii) By Tubur formation: In some species there arise tubur outgrowths which are capable of
producing new plants as in Riccia vesicota.
(iv) Apices of plants get embedded: In some species of R. himalayensis the apex of thallus at the end
of season grows down into the soil and becomes thick. In next season it grows up and gives rise to
new plant.
(v) By rhizoids: In some species like R. glauca a young thallus may be formed at the apex of a rhizoid
in manner similar to that by which the young thallus arises from the germ tube form germinating
spore.
Sexual Reproduction: It is of oogamous type. Mature thallus of Riccia bears sex organs on its dorsal
surface. There are male or antheridia and femal or archegonia as sexual organs. Plants may be
monoecious or dioecious.
Male Reproductive Organs: Male organ is autheridium cuhich develops from single superficial cell on
dorsal surface of thallus called antheridial initial cell. It protrudes out and becomes papillate and
then divide by transverse division forming a lower basal cell and upper outer cell. Lower basal cell
undergoes further development and forms the embedded portion of stalk of antheridium while
outer cell forms jacket layer, antherozoids outer cells divides to form two louver cells called primary
stalk cells and upper primary antheridial cells. Cells of both tiers divide to formmany anderogenial
cells which divide to form many androgenial cells and androcyte cells, each of whiche divides to form
two antherozoid mother cells.
Each androcyte of antherozoid mother cells get metamorphosed into an antherozoid. A small extra
nuclear gramule the blepharoplast appears which then elongates into rod shaped body around the
cells. The nucleus gets the shape of crescent and becomes homogenous. It moves to the side of
blepharoplast and becomes firmly incited with it. At anterior end of blepharoplast two long flagella
are formed. Thus a mature antherozoid is formed which has an elongated nucleus and the
blephroplast with two long flagella. Cilia help in movement. Antherozoids get liberated free from
antheridum only when moisture is present. Mature antheridium is club shaped with single jacket
layer and antherozoids.
Female Reproductive Organs: Archegonium develops from a single superficial cell called archegonial
initial which divides by transverse division into lower basal cell and upper outer cell. The basal cell
after further divisions from embedded stalk of archegonium while the outer cell divides by three
vertical divisions in such a way that three peripheral cells surround a central primary axial cell. The
three peripheral cells divide vertically from 6 jacket cells, the central axial cell divides transversely
and from an upper primary cover cell and lower central cell.
Jacket cells divide transversely and form two tiers of jacket each having six cells. Upper tier of cells is
called as neck initials and forms neck of six cells in height. Primary cover cells divide four cover cells.
Central cell divides into upper primary neck canal cell and lower primary venter cell. Primary neck
canal cell further divides into four neck cells and primary venter cell forms a small venter cell and a
large egg. Thus mature archegonium looks like a flask shaped structure with a long neck and swollen
venter with an egg.
Fertilization: Male and female gametes fuse together in water medium. Free swimming antherozoid
gets attached with archegonium and reaches mouth of neck, enter the canal and go into water only
antherozoid fuses with egg and form zygote or oospore which is diploid in nature.
Sporophyte generation: Oospore or zygote is first cell or unit of sporophyte. Zygote secretes a cell
wall of its own and enlarges in size. Wall of venter undergoes many periclinal and anticlinal division
to form a calyptra which is two layered. Zygote undergoes segmentation. First division is transverse.
Second and third vertical result in the formation of & called structure the octant.
Eight called zygote or embryo divides by many irregular divisions to form 20 to 40 called multicellular
structure. Periclinal division forms an outer layer of amphethecium and inner endothelium.
Endothelium forms the spore mother cells and is diploid or sporophytic in nature and divides by
reduction division and form four spores. Sporophyte of Riccia has a capsule with jacket and spores.
There is no foot seta and no fertilization of sporogenous tissue in the capsule. Spores get liberated
after maturation by death and decay of sporangous tissue in the capsule.
Gametophyte: spore is the first cell or unit of gametophyte.
Germenation of spore & formation of young gametophyte: The spores after dispersal get suitable
substratum, starts to germinate. Edoporium forms a germ tube which grown and forms filamentous
structure called protonema. Lower portion of germ tube produces rhizoids apical portion of germ
tube divides and forms young gametophytic thallus of Riccia.
