In ferns, meiosis takes place at the time of

Explanation

(a) : A fern plant body is sporophytic (2n) and is differentiated into roots, stems, and leaves. On the ventral surface of leaves, sporangia are borne in a group called sori. Inside the sporangium are present the spores which are formed by reduction division. Thus the spores produced are haploid in nature and germinate to produce a prothallus that represents the gametophytic generation. Antheridium and archegonium are borne on this prothallus. Thus meiosis takes place at the stage of spore formation.