Gymnosperms: General Characteristics, Classification, and Life Cycle | NEET Biology Notes

 Introduction

• Gymnosperms evolved from Pteridophyte. As they are seed bearing plants but their seeds are naked because the ovule are not enclosed by an ovary wall and remain exposed before and after the fertilization.
• They have vascular tissue for transportation of food and water, their plant body is divided into roots, stems and leaves but they do not  bear flowers. 

Doston, pichli post mein humne Pteridophytes ke baare mein detail se padha tha. Aaj hum ek aise plant group  ki baat karenge jisko  angiosperm ke sath higher plants main rakha jaata hai  — Gymnosperm .

Table of Contents (ToC)

• ​Introduction to Gymnosperms (The "Naked Seed" Plants)
• ​Key Characteristics of Gymnosperms
• ​Morphology: Roots, Stem, and Leaves
• ​Anatomy: Vascular Tissues (Xylem & Phloem)
• ​Reproduction: Cones and Spores
• ​Life Cycle and Alternation of Generations
• ​Economic Importance of Gymnosperms
• ​Important Examples (Cycas, Pinus, Cedrus)
• ​Top 15+ MCQs for NEET Revision

 "Sirf Notes hi nahi, is chapter ke Full Video Lectures aur MCQs ke liye hamara [NEET Biology Master Hub] visit karein — Jahan milega NEET 2026 ka complete study material ek hi jagah!

👉The term gymnosperm signifies the naked seed because their ovule is not covered by an ovary wall.

👉Gymnosperms are grouped under the  embryophyta. They  are like shrubs , medium height plants and some are long  trees.

👉Sequoia is one of the tallest trees of gymnosperm, called as giant redwood gymnosperm.

Sequoia

👉Gymnosperms can tolerate moist or dry conditions. Gymnosperms evolved  in the Triassic period. Approx 1200 species have been recognized under the gymnosperm. 

👌👌Remember -Gymnosperms are classified into four types -Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Gnetophyta and coniferophyta. 

General characters of Gymnosperms

Habitat -

• They are found in colder regions and  They develop needle-like leaves to reduce surface area.
• In addition to this, the leaves of gymnosperm are well adapted to withstand adverse conditions like temperature , humidity etc.

🎥 Video Highlights (Topics Covered)

00:18Evolutionary Origin of Gymnosperms01:27Meaning of Naked Seeds (Naked Seeded Plants)04:30Sequoia: The Giant Redwood Tree06:53Pinus & Mycorrhiza (Symbiosis)08:46Cycas & Coralloid Roots (BGA Association)10:02Stem: Branched vs Unbranched14:47Adaptations: Thick Cuticle & Sunken Stomata

• They also have thick cuticles and sunken stomata to reduce the loss of water.

Symbiotic association 

• Some gymnosperms have fungal symbiotic association in their roots.
• In Pinus, fungus make association in the root of pinus. This association is called mycorrhiza.
• In cycas, nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria like Nostoc make association in the root of cycas. Such roots are special in structure  termed Coralloid roots.
  🔥 NEET Hotspot: Confusion Dur Karein!

  Gymnosperms ki sexuality par NEET mein baar-baar sawal aata hai. Is simple trick se yaad rakhiye:

  Pinus (Monoecious): Ek hi ped par Male aur Female dono cones hote hain.

  • (Trick: P se Pinus, P se Paas-paas) Cycas (Dioecious): Male aur Female cones alag-alag ped par hote hain.
  • (Trick: C se Cycas, C se Chhod kar alag)

  ⚠️ Note: Cycas mein 'Female Cone' nahi hota, balki 'Megasporophylls' hote hain jo loose hote hain.
  Morphological feature

• The roots in gymnosperm are tap roots because the primary branch of the root has various branches.
• The leaves may be simple or compound.
• The stem is branched like in Pinus or unbranched like in cycas.

Microsporophyll and Megasporophyll 

• The gymnosperm has a group of two kinds of  leaves called sporophyll.
• These sporophyll bear sporangia that also produced two kinds of spores - microspore and megaspore.
• In gymnosperm, small leaves are arranged in the form of microsporophyll which bear microsporangia and produce microspore.
• The bunch of small leaves in gymnosperm is called female strobili or female cone. 
• Similarly, Large leaves  are arranged in the form of megasporophyll which bear megasporangia and produce megaspore. 
• The bunch of large  leaves in gymnosperm is called male strobili or male cone.

Pinus

• In Pinus, Male and female cones are found in a single plant whereas in Cycles male and female cones are present at different plants.

Feature	Cycas	Pinus
Stem (Tana)	Unbranched (Bina shakha wala)	Branched (Shakhavala)
Roots (Jadein)	Coralloid Roots (Cyanobacteria ke saath)	Mycorrhiza (Fungi ke saath)
Leaves (Pattiyan)	Pinnate (Badi aur pankh jaisi)	Needle-like (Sui jaisi patli)
Sexuality	Dioecious (Male & Female alag ped par)	Monoecious (Dono ek hi ped par)
Male Gametes	Motile (Cilia hote hain)	Non-motile

Reproductive structure

• At microsporophyll, inside the microsporangia, microspores divide and produce male gametophyte or pollen grains.
• On the other hand, At megasporophyll, inside the megasporangium, an ovule is present and it is surrounded by the protective envelope called integuments. Ovule of Gymnosperm has only single integument hence ovule is unitegmic. The cells of integuments are called nucellus.
• A single cell of nucellus is differentiated and forms a megaspore mother cell.
  🔬 Reproduction & Structure Topics

  00:40 Gymnosperms are Heterosporous (Two types of spores)

  01:55 Understanding Cones or Strobili

  02:22 NEET Hotspot: Monoecious (Pinus) vs Dioecious (Cycas)

  03:49 Male Cone & Microsporophyll structure

  04:46 Microsporangia & Pollen Grains (Reduced Gametophyte)

  05:45 Female Cone & Megasporophyll structure

  06:24 Structure of Gymnosperm Ovule (Megasporangium)

  07:03 Role of Nucellus & Integument in Ovule

  07:15 Presence of Two or more Archegonia
  
  

• These megaspore mother cells divide by meiosis and form four megaspore.
• Out of four megaspore , one megaspore develops into a female gametophyte. This female gametophyte contains one or two archegonia bearing eggs.

  Feature	Gymnosperms	Angiosperms
  Reproductive Structure	Cones (Strobili)	Flowers
  Ovules	Naked (No ovary wall)	Enclosed within the Ovary
  Pollination	Primarily by Wind (Anemophily)	Wind, Water, Insects, Animals
  Pollen Landing	Directly on the Ovule	On the Stigma
  Fertilization	Single Fertilization	Double Fertilization (Unique)
  Endosperm	Haploid (n), formed before fertilization	Triploid (3n), formed after fertilization

  Reproduction :

• In gymnosperm, male gametophyte and female gametophyte are retained within microsporangia and megasporangia respectively.
• Pollen grains are carried by the wind and reach the ovule.
• At the ovule, pollen grain germinates the pollen tube and discharges male gamete at the mouth of Archegonia.
• As a result, fertilization occurs by the fusion of male gamete of pollen grains and egg of archegonia.

📌 Topic Highlights
00:14 - Heterosporous Nature (Intro)

00:51 - Pinus: Monoecious

03:37 - Pollen Grain

04:39 - Ovule Structure

07:30 - Wind Pollination

09:37 - Naked Seeds

• After fertilization, zygote is changed into embryo and ovule into seed that is without covering. Example- Cycas,Pinus,Ginkgo, Cedrus,Picea etc.

Economic Importance of Gymnosperms 

• ​Wood Industry: Pines, Firs, and Cedars are the primary source of softwood used for making furniture, paper, and plywood.
• ​Edible Seeds: The seeds of Pinus gerardiana are known as Chilgoza and are highly nutritious and edible.

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• ​Resins & Oils: Resins obtained from Pinus are used in paints and varnishes. Turpentine oil is also a major product.
• ​Medicinal Value: The drug Taxol, used in cancer treatment, is extracted from the bark of the Yew tree (Taxus).
• ​Ornamentals: Cycas and many varieties of Conifers are grown globally for landscaping and decorative purposes.

Doston, Hum log is post ke sath plant kingdom study kar chuke hai. Ab baari hai animal Kingdom ki . Jinse hum sabse pehle Basis of classification ko study karenge.

NEET MULTIPLE CHOICE  QUESTIONS 

100 % Challenge 

Questions yahi se aayaga

1. In which group of plants, the ovule are not enclosed by an ovary wall and remain exposed before and after the fertilization.

A. Bryophytes

B. Pteridophytes 

C. Gymnosperms 

D. Angiosperms 

Answer : C  

2. Which of the following statement is  Incorrect.

A. Only Compound leaves are found in Gymnosperm.

B. Tap root are present in Gymnosperms.

C. The leaves of Gymnosperms are well adapted to withstand against temprature, humidity, and wind.

D. Gymnosperms include medium size tree or tall tree and shrub.

Answer: A  

3. How many statement are correct.

1. In Gymnosperms, the seed that form after the fertilization, are naked.

2. The leaves may be simple or compound.

3. In conifers, leaves are pointed or needle like to reduce the surface area.

4. The thick cuticle and sunken stomata help to reduce the water loss.

5. Gymnosperms generally have fibrous root system.

A. Two    B. Three 

C. Four     D. Five 

Answer : C  

4. Which one of the following is giant, redwood tallest Gymnosperms.

A. Sequoia 

B. Ginkgo

C. Cedrus

D. None of the above.

Answer : A  

5. Consider the following statement and select the correct code. 

1. Root of Pinus has fungal association in form of Mycorrhiza.

2. Root of Cycas is Coralloid root because it has symbiotic association with  nitrogen fixing Cyanobacteria.

A. Only  1    B. Only 2

C.Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor  2

Answer : C  

6. Which one of the following statement is not correct about the Cycas, a Gymnosperms.

A. Male cone and female cone are borne on different tree.

B. Stem is unbranched.

C. The pinnately leaves persist for a fer years.

D. Roots are Coralloid because  Roots have association with nitrogen fixing Cyanobacteria. 

Answer : B  

7. Which of the following statement is  Incorrect with respect to Gymnosperm.

A. They are heterosporous and produce microspore and megaspore with in sporangia.

B. Sporangia are borne on sporophyll which are arranged in form of cone or strobli.

C. Microsporangiate is male cone which bear micosporophyll and microsporangia.

D. Macrosporangiate is female cone which bear megasporophyll and megasporangia without the ovule.

Answer : D 

8.  Consider the following term and arrange them in order.

1. Sporophyll 

2. Cone 

3. Sporangia 

4. Spore 

A.  2 - 1  - 3 - 4

B.  1-  3  - 2 - 4

C.  2 - 1 -  4  - 3

D.  2 - 1 -  3 - 4 

Answer: A  

9. Which of the following statement is correct about the pollen grain or microspore of Gymnosperm.

A. Pollen  grains are highly reduced male gametophyte with limited number of cells.

B.  Microspore are formed with in microsporangia on male cone.

C.  Microspore are developed into male gametophyte.

D. All of the above 

Answer : D 

10.  The stem is branched in

A. Pinus and Cedrus

B. Cycas and Cedrus

C. Cycas and Pinus

D. Cycas, Pinus, Cedrus.

Answer : A 

11. Consider the following statement with respect to the ovule of Gymnosperm and select the correct code:

1.  Ovule or  megasporangi are  born on mega sporophyll.

2. Ovule is composed of cells of nucellus which is protected by envelop.

3. Ovule may be clustered in form of female cone.

4. One of the cell of nucellus is differentiated and act as megaspore mother cell.

A. 1 and  4.

B. 2, 3 and 4

C. 1, 3 and 4

D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer : D  

12. In Gymnosperm, Mega spore mother cell which is diffrentiated from nucellus  divide by meiosis and form 

A. One megaspore

B. Two megaspore

C.Three megaspore

D. Four megaspore.

Answer : D  

13. Out of four megaspore, one megaspore is developed into multicellular gametophyte which bear

A. One archegonium 

B. Two archegonia 

C. Three archegonia

D. Two or MORE archegonia.

Answer: D  

14. How many statement is / are not correct.

1. Main plant body of Gymnosperm is sporophyte and homosporous.

2. Pollen grain are reduced male  gametophyte with limited cell.

3. Female gametophyte is multicellular and retained  within megasporangium

4. Male and  female gametophyte are not independent and free living.

A. One      B. Two 

C. Three   D. Four

Answer: A  

15. Pollen grain are released from microsporangia and reach at mouth of ovule by 

A. Water

B . Insect

C. Wind

D. Insect

Answer : C  

16. Pollen grains are germinated in form of pollen tube at 

A . Archegonia

B. Megasporophyll

C. Ovule

D. Female cone 

Answer: C  

17. Which of the following event does not occur in archegonia of Gynosperm.

A. Pollen tube discharge male gamete  near mouth of archegonia. 

B. Fertilisation takes place in archegonia and zygote is formed.

C. Zygote is developed in to embryo inside the archegonia.

D. Ovule is developed into naked seed.

Answer : D 

18.Consider the following statement and select the correct code:

1. The male and female cone are borne on same tree in cycas.

2. The male and female cone are borne on different  tree in Pinus.

A. Only 1              

B.Only 2 

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : D  

19. Identify the following diagram and select the option:

A.Cedrus

B.Pinus

C.Cycas

D. Ginkgo

Answer: D

20. Which Gymnosperm is known as a "Living Fossil"?

A) Pinus

B) Ginkgo biloba

C) Cedrus

D) Cycas

Answer : B

22. In Gymnosperms, the pollination is exclusively carried out by:

A) Water

B) Insects

C) Wind (Anemophily)

D) Animals

Answer : C

23. Which of the following lacks vessels in its xylem?

A) Most Angiosperms

B) Most Gymnosperms (except Gnetum)

C) All Pteridophytes

D) None of the above

Answer : C

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