How does meiosis affect the chromosome number in lower vascular plant spores?

In lower vascular plants, the process of meiosis is essential for reducing the chromosome number within the sporophyte generation.12

During the life cycle, the mature sporophyte produces specialized cells known as spore mother cells (or sporocytes) within structures called sporangia. Through meiosis, these diploid (2n) spore mother cells undergo nuclear division, which reduces the chromosome count to a single set (1n) for each of the four resulting spores.12

These haploid spores then serve as the starting point for the gametophyte generation, eventually developing into multicellular plants that produce gametes. This reduction is a critical component of the alternation of generations, ensuring that when fertilization (syngamy) later occurs between two haploid gametes, the resulting zygote restores the diploid chromosome number necessary for the next sporophyte generation.12