Heterospory in pteridophytes leads to development of two different kinds of spores, i.e. microspores and megaspores. This is similar to higher plants in which male gametes are much smaller than female gametes. Another important feature is in situ development of embryo; which is similar to development of embryo in higher plants. Development of embryo inside the female gametophyte enables it to take nutrition from the female 
gametophyte. This is beneficial for proper development of embryo and give certain survival bene fits to the embryo. Thus, it can be said that heterospory in pteridophytes is a precursor to seed habit in gymnosperm.