The stage of plant life cycle in which spores are produced is called sporophytic stage. Gametophytes produce sperm and ovules in plants. A zygote is formed by the union of sperm and egg. Zygote is the first cell of the sporophyte stage. The zygote is enveloped by the wall and becomes a zygospore. Zygospore germinates in favorable environment. The germinating zygospore divides repeatedly in the process of mitosis to form the sporophyte plant. Sporangia are produced along the margins of sporophyte plant leaves. Each sporangium contains 16 spore mother cells. Each spore mother cell divides by meiosis to produce four spores. This condition is called tetrad. As a result, 64 spores are produced in each sporangium. When the spore develops, the wall of the sporangium ruptures and comes out. The sporophyte stage ends with the formation of spores.
