Chapter 1 Reproduction in Lower and Higher Plants
1. Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
Insect pollinated flowers usually possess ………………
(a) sticky pollen with a rough surface
(b) large quantities of pollens
(c) dry pollens with a smooth surface
(d) light colored pollens
Answer:
(a) sticky pollen with a rough surface
Question 2.
In ovule, meiosis occurs in ………………
(a) Integument
(b) Nucellus
(c) Megaspore
(d) Megaspore mother cell
Answer:
(d) Megaspore mother cell
Question 3.
The ploidy level is NOT the same in ………………
(a) Integuments and nucellus
(b) Root tip and shoot tip
(c) Secondary nucleus and endosperm
(d) Antipodals and synergids
Answer:
(c) Secondary nucleus and endosperm
Question 4.
Which of the following types require pollination but result is genetically
similar to autogamy?
(a) Geitonogamy
(b) Xenogamy
(c) Apogamy
(d) Cleistogamy
Answer:
(a) Geitonogamy
Question 5.
If diploid chromosome number in a flowering plant is 12, then which one of the
following will have 6 chromosomes?
(a) Endosperm
(b) Leaf cells
(c) Cotyledons
(d) Synergids
Answer:
(d) Synergids
Question 6.
In angiosperms, endosperm is formed by/ due to ………………
(a) free nuclear divisions of megaspore
(b) polar nuclei
(c) polar nuclei and male gamete
(d) synergids and male gametes
Answer:
(c) polar nuclei and male gamete
Question 7.
Point out the odd one.
(a) Nucellus
(b) Embryo sac
(c) Micropyle
(d) Pollen grain
Answer:
(d) Pollen grain
2. Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
The part of gynoecium that determines the compatible nature of pollen grain.
Answer:
Stigmatic surface.
Question 2.
How many haploid cells are present in a mature embryo sac?
Answer:
6 cells, 2 synergids, 1 egg cell, 3 antipodals.
Question 3.
Even though each pollen grain has 2 male gametes why at least 20 pollen grains
are required to fertilize 20 ovules in a particular carpel?
Answer:
Angiosperms have phenomenon of double fertilization in which both the male
gametes are utilized, one for fusion with egg cell to form zygote and other for
fusion with secondary nucleus to form endosperm.
Question 4.
Megasporogenesis
Answer:
It is the process of formation of haploid megaspores from diploid megaspore
mother cell.
Question 5.
What is hydrophily?
Answer:
Transfer of pollen grains in pollination process through agency of water is
known as hydrophily.
Question 6.
The layer which supplies nourishment to the developing pollen grains.
Answer:
Tapetum
Question 7.
Parthenocarpy
Answer:
The condition in which fruit is developed without the process of
fertilization is called parthenocarpy.
Question 8.
Are pollination and fertilization necessary in apomixis?
Answer:
Apomixis is formation of embryos without formation of gametes hence there is no
need of pollination and fertilization.
Question 9.
The part of pistil which develops into fruit and seed.
Answer:
Ovary develops into fruit and ovules into seed.
Question 10.
What is the function of filiform apparatus ?
Answer:
Filiform apparatus guides the pollen tube towards egg cell.
3. Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
How polyembryony can be commercially exploited?
Answer:
- Polyembryony
is the development of more than one embryo inside the seed.
- When
such polyembryonic seed germinate we get multiple seedlings from it.
- This
condition increases the chances of survival of new plants.
- Nucellar
embryos are genetically identical to parent plants hence we get uniform
plants.
- In
horticulture we can utilize these as rootstock for grafting, hence they
have significant role in fruit breeding programmes e.g. Citrus, Mango.
Question 2.
Pollination and seeds formation are very crucial for the fruit formation,
Justify.
Answer:
- After
fertilization, ovary is transformed into fruit, where ovary wall becomes
fruit wall, i.e pericarp.
- Mature
ovules are transformed into seeds after fertilization.
- Fertilization
is a process where male gametes unites with female gamete to form zygote
which develops into embryo.
- In
pollination process pollen grains carrying non-motile male gamete are
transferred on stigma.
- Seeds
have embryo which germinate into new plant hence the goal of reproduction
to create offspring for next generation is achieved. Hence these are the
crucial events for fruit formation.
Question 3.
Incompatibility is a natural barrier in the fusion of gametes. How will you
explain this statement?
Answer:
- Self
incompatibility or self-sterility is a genetic mechanism that prevents
germination of pollen on stigma of same flower. This favours cross
pollination. E.g. Tobacco.
- In
pollen-pistil interaction, when pollen grain is deposited on stigma,
pistil has the ability to recognize and allow germination of right type of
pollen.
- Special
type of proteins on stigmatic surface determine compatibility or
incompatibility.
- A
physiological mechanism operates to ensure successful germination of
compatible pollen.
- Compatible
pollen absorbs water and nutrients from stigmatic surface that are absent
in pollen and then pollen tube emerges which grow-s through style.
Question 4.
Describe three devices by which cross pollination is encouraged in Angiosperms
by avoiding self-pollination?
Answer:
- Unisexuality,
dichogamy, prepotency, heteromorphy and herkogamy are the outbreeding
devices.
- Unisexuality
: The plants bear either male or female flowers. Due to unisexual nature,
self-pollination is avoided. Plants are either dioecious, e.g. Papaya or
monoecious, e.g. maize.
- Heteromorphy
: In same plants different types of flowers are produced. In these
flowers, stigmas and anthers are situated at different levels. There is
heterostyly and heteroanthy. This prevents self-pollination e.g. Primrose.
- Herkogamy
: In bisexual flowers we may come across mechanical device to prevent
self-pollination. Natural physical barrier avoids contact of pollens with
stigma. E.g. Calotropis where pollinia are situated below the stigma.
4. Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Describe the process of double fertilization.
Answer:
Double fertilization:
(1) Out of the two male gametes produced by the male gametophyte in
angiosperms, one unites with the female gamete and the other with the secondary
nucleus. Since both the male gametes take part in fertilization and
fertilization occurs twice, it is called double fertilization.
(2) During double fertilization, the pollen tube on reaching
the ovule enters the embryo sac through micropyle and bursts in one of the
synergids. Owing to this, the two male gametes contained in the pollen tube,
are set free.
(3) Out of the two male gametes, one unites with the egg or
female gamete and the other unites with the secondary nucleus of the embryo
sac, forming a triploid or triple fusion nucleus, called the primary endosperm
nucleus. The process involving the fusion of one of the male gametes with the
egg nucleus, resulting in the formation of a diploid zygote is called syngamy.
(4) The reproductive process in which non-motile male nuclei
are carried to the egg cell through a pollen tube is called siphonogamy.
(5) After fertilization, zygote develops into an embryo.
Certain changes take place in the ovule leading to the development of a seed.
Question 2.
Explain the stages involved in the maturation of microspore into male
gametophyte.
OR
Describe the development of male gametophyte before pollination in angiosperms.
OR
Sketch and label male gametophyte in angiosperm.
Answer:
- Microspore
or pollen grain is first cell of male gametophyte.
- The
protoplast of pollen grain divides mitotically to form two unequal cells –
a small thin walled generative cell and a large naked vegetative or tube
cell.
- The
generative cell possesses thin cytoplasm and a nucleus. It separates and
floats in the cytoplasm of vegetative cell.
- The
vegetative, possesses thick cytoplasm, irregular shaped nucleus and the
reserved food.
- In
majority of the angiosperms, the pollen grains are liberated at two-celled
stage after the dehiscence of the anther.
- The
generative cell of the pollen grain divides by mitosis to form two male
non-motile gametes.
Question 3.
Explain the development of dicot embryo.
Answer:
Development of embryo (dicot) in angio- sperm:
The oospore undergoes a transverse division to form a large basal cell towards
the micropyle and a small apical or terminal cell towards the chalaza of the
embryo sac. This two celled structure is called proembryo. The basal cell or
suspensor initial undergoes repeated transverse divisions to form a
multicellular structure called suspensor. The suspensor pushes the embryo
towards the endosperm to draw its nutrition.
- The
development of embryo from a zygote is called embryogenesis.
- The
fusion of male gamete and an egg cell during fertilization results in the
formation of a diploid zygote. The zygote develops a wall around it and is
converted into oospore.
- The
apical cell or embryonal initial of the proembryo undergoes a transverse
division followed by two vertical divisions at right angles to form an
octant stage.
- From
octant, the lower four cells form hypocotyl and radicle while four cells
of upper side form plumule with two cotyledons.
- The
lowermost cell of suspensor is hypophysis and by its further division
forms part of radicle and root cap.
- The
cells from upper side of octant divide repeatedly to form heart shaped
which elongated further to form two lateral cotyledons.
- Enlargement
of hypocotyl and cotyledon results into curved embryo which appears horse
shoe shaped.
Question 4.
Draw a diagram of the L.S of anatropous ovule and list the components of embryo
sac and mention their fate after fertilization.
Answer:
Components of Embryo sac.
- Mature
embryo sac is 7-celled and 8 nucleate.
- Egg
apparatus at micropylar end – with 2 synergids and egg cell.
- Central
cell with secondary nucleus formed by 2 polar nuclei
- Antipodal
cells at chalazal end – 3 cells.
- Pollen
tube enters the synergids, Synergids guide the growth of pollen tube
towards egg.
- Male
gamete fuses with female gamete, i.e. syngamy to form zygote which
develops into embryo.
- One
male gamete fuses with secondarynucleus to form primary endosperm nucleus
(PEN) which forms endosperm, nutritive tissue for embryo.
5. Fill in the Blanks
Question 1.
The ……………… collects the pollen grains.
Answer:
biotic agents
Question 2.
The male whorl, called the ……………… produces ………………
Answer:
androecium, pollen grains
Question 3.
The pollen grains represent the ………………
Answer:
male
Question 4.
The ……………… contains the egg or ovum.
Answer:
embryo sac
Question 5.
…………….. takes place when one male gamete and the egg fuse together. The
fertilized egg grows vs into seed from which the new plants can grow.
Answer:
Fertilization
Question 6.
The ……………… is the base of the flower to which other floral parts are attached.
Answer:
thalamus
Question 7.
……………… is the transfer of pollen grains from anther of the flower to the stigma
of the same or a different flower.
Answer:
Pollination
Question 8.
Once the pollen reaches the stigma, pollen tube traverses down the ……………… to
the ovary where fertilization occurs.
Answer:
style
Question 9.
The ……………… are coloured to attract the insects that carry the pollen. Some
flowers also produce ……………… or ……………… that attracts insects.
Answer:
petals, fragrance, nectar
Question 10.
The whorl ……………… is green that protects the flower until it opens.
Answer:
Calyx.
6. Label the Parts of seed.
Answer:
7. Match the following
(a) A-v, B-i, C-ii, D-iv
(b) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-v
(c) A-iv, B-i, C-v D-ii
(d) A-iv, B-v C-iii, D-ii
Answer:
(c) A-iv, B-i, C-v D-ii