Final answer:
The relative importance of the two generations differs among major groups of plants. In nonvascular plants, the dominant generation is the gametophyte, while in vascular plants, the sporophyte generation is dominant.
Step-by-step explanation:
In plants, the relative importance of the two generations, sporophyte and gametophyte, differs among the major groups. In nonvascular plants like mosses and liverworts, the dominant generation is the gametophyte, which is larger and more complex than the sporophyte. In vascular plants, such as ferns and seed plants, the sporophyte generation is dominant and more complex than the gametophyte.
For example, in mosses, the gametophyte generation is the dominant phase of the life cycle. The moss sporophytes are small and dependent on the gametophyte for nutrition and support. On the other hand, in ferns and seed plants, the sporophyte generation is the dominant phase, and it is much larger and longer-lived than the gametophyte. The gametophyte is reduced and dependent on the sporophyte for nutrition and support.
Learn more about Generations in plants