Examining the maternal investment of the calyptra and its influence on the sporophyte offspring

Maternal care is a critical component of offspring survival, development, and fitness in many organisms. In early diverging lineages of plants (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts), offspring sporophytes are physically attached to and nutritionally dependent on the maternal gametophyte throughout their lifespan. Mosses have a unique structure that is a maternal cap of gametophyte tissue that covers the sporophyte apex during critical developmental stages. The calyptra has shown to positively impact sporophyte survival and fitness. My research examines the influence of calyptra size on sporophyte growth and development.