Agents of pollination - class-IX

Gloriosa Superba comes under the category leaf tip tendril rather stipular tendril. Wild pea is not a petiole tendril. Correct matches are :

Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen grain from the anther to stigma. Angiosperm is the flower producing plant that attracts insects for pollination. Insect pollination not only conserves energy for the plant, but insects may play a part in angiosperm diversity. The zoophilous pollen species have adaptations for pollination by generalist insects (39%), specialized pollen-collecting insects (27%) and other specialized pollinators (10%).

There are different types of pollination depending upon the agent involved in it. Pollination by bird is known as ornithophilous pollination. Chiropterophilous is a type of pollination in which pollination occurs by bats. Entomophilous is a type of pollination in which pollination occurs by insects. Pollination by snail and slug is known as malacophilous pollination. 

Chiropterophily is pollination of plants by bats. Bat pollination of most common in tropical and desert areas that have many night blooming flowers. Just like bees and birds that pollinate, nectar consuming bats have evolved ways to find and harvest the nectar. Nectar bats have long tongues and can hover like hummingbirds. In turn, the flowers attract bats with their light-coloured petals, large bolossoms, fruity aromas and plentiful nectar.

Kigelia pinnate is a species belonging to the family Bignoniaceae. It is found in tropical Africa. This is an evergreen tree with pinnate leaves and long drooping inflorescence. It produces bell-shaped flowers in panicles and has a strong scent which is most notable at night. The strong smell attracts the bat which comes for pollen and nectar and thus these are generally pollinated by bats. 

Pollination is the transferring of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. Pollination by the agency of ants is called myrmecophily. Pollination by bats, insects and birds are called cleiropterophily, entomophily and ornithophily respectively. 

The seeds of the fruits get dispersed by different methods. Xanthium and Urena are the plants in which the fruits produces seeds having structures like spines or hooks. These structures are used for clinging the seeds on the body of the animals and get carried away with them and get dispersed.

Bees are the most effective pollinators which spent most of their lifetime in collecting pollen to feed their offsprings. At least 30%of 1,500 crop plant species depend on pollination by bees.

Adansonia is a genus of nine species of tree, including six native to Madagascar, two native to mainland Africa and the Arabian peninsula, and one native to Australia. They undergo pollination with the help of bats. It is thus, classified under chiropterophily mode of pollination.

Ornithophily is a type of pollination that takes place in flowering plant by birds. The birds with long beaks like hummingbird show this type of pollination. The plants, which undergo ornithophily are usually bright coloured and unscented.

Pollination is the transfer of pollens from the male anther to the female stigma. It is carried out by the help of animals, birds, insects, water and wind. Pollination carried out by bats is called chiropterophily. The pollination carried out by the birds is called ornithophily. The pollination carried out by snails is called malacophily. The pollination carried out by insects is called entomophily.

Pollination by agency of insects is known as entomophily or insect pollination. Bees, butterflies, moths and beetles are main pollinating insects. Insect pollinated flowers are large, conspicuous, bright coloured and have pleasant smell. They have nectarines on receptacles or on spurs at the base of flower whorls and produce nectar to attract insects. Option A is incorrect. Pollination by agency of birds is known as ornithophily. The common pollinating birds are squirrels, bats, snails etc. the bird pollinated flowers are colourful, mostly red, produce lots of nectar and also exhibit adaptations to protect nectar from insects. Option C is incorrect. Pollination by bats is known as chiropterophily. The plants produce large, bell shaped and attractive flowers that open at night and produce strong odours and nectar. Option D is incorrect. Pollination by snails and slug is called as malacophily. These flowers have long blooming period to facilitate access of pollen to snails. 

Tissue culture technology is grounded on the fact that the entire plant can be regenerated from explants. This capacity to produce a whole plant from any cell/explant is named totipotency. Individually these plants will be genetically identical to the original plant. Several important food plants like tomato, apple, banana, etc., can be generated on the commercial scale by this method.

Thus, the correct option is C.

The majority of angiosperms bear chasmogamous flowers, which means the flowers expose their mature anthers and stigma to the pollinating agents. There is another group of plants which set seeds without exposing their sex organs. Such flowers are called cleistogamous and the phenomenon cleistogamy.

Myrmecophily refers to the symbiotic relationship between plants and ants, specifically including pollination by ants.

Malacophily is the term used to describe pollination by mollusks, such as snails and slugs.

Bees are the most important pollinators for many agricultural crops, facilitating the transfer of pollen necessary for fruit and seed production.

Chiropterophily is pollination by bats. Flowers pollinated by bats are typically large, nocturnal, produce copious nectar, and emit strong odors to attract bats.

Birds generally have a poor sense of smell and are primarily attracted to flowers by bright colors, especially red, rather than scent.

Myrmecophily is the symbiotic relationship of ants and plants in which the ants get food and place to stay while plants get a pollinator or a method of seed diepersal. It is widely used by family Rubiaceae which is a family of coffee.

Windy areas are favorable for plants in which pollination is done by the wind like corn, willow etc while it is unfavorable for those in which pollination is done by animals as it is very difficult to survive.

Pollination is when pollen grains from an anther, the male portion of a flower, are transferred to a female part in the flower, known as the stigma. Zoophily is a form of pollination whereby pollen is transferred by animals. Zoophilous species frequently evolve mechanisms to make themselves more appealing to the particular type of pollinator. Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plant species transported externally by animals can have a variety of adaptations for dispersal, including adhesive mucus, and a variety of hooks, spines and barbs

Myrmecophily is the symbiotic relationship between plant and ants in which plants provide food to plant or place to hide eggs and ants help them in pollination. 

Pollination by insects is entomophily. Insects are the most common biotic agents of pollination. Bees are the most common insect which acts as pollinating agents. Other insect pollinators are butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, moths. Flowers are brightly colored and scented to attract the insects. Majority of insect-pollinated flowers are large-sized. Entomophily occurs in Calotropis, Ficus, Salvia, etc.

In entomophily, insects are the pollinating agents. Insects are the most common biotic agents of pollination. Bees are the most common insect which acts as pollinating agents. Other insect pollinators are butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, moths. Majority of insect-pollinated flowers are large-sized. These flowers are scented, colorful and fragrant and contain nectaries to attract insects. 

• About 80 percent of all plant pollination is biotic i.e it is carried out by insects such as bees, wasps, and birds.
• The remaining 20 percent of abiotically pollinated species, 98 percent is by wind pollination and 2 percent by water pollination.
  

Entomophily type of pollination takes place through the agency of insects. The entomophilous flowers are brightly colored and fragrance to attract the insects. Their pollen grains are sticky or spiny to easily get attached with the body of pollinators. When the insects visit the flowers, their body gets dusted with pollen grains, and when they fly and visit other flowers, they brush against the stigma which being sticky, at once receives the pollen grains from their body. Thus, cross-pollination is achieved. 

Hypohydrogamy includes the plants which are pollinated inside the water, e.g., Ceratophyllum, Naja, etc. Epihydrogamous - includes the plants which are pollinated on the surface of water.

A tethered structure of the eel grass flower draws in free sailing male flowers for pollination by forming a dimple on water surface. The female flower is also blown by the wind, but it is anchored by its stem. As the breeze tugs at it, so its stem pulls it lower in the water, creating a dimple in the surface. The male ship, moving freely, sails into the dimple, toboggans down its slope and collides so violently with the female flower that the pollen is knocked out of its anthers. The female flower, having achieved fertilization, then closes.

Hydrophily includes plants which are pollinated inside the water. Zostera marina is a submerged marine perennial. The pollen is exceptionally long and needle like. Specific gravity of these pollen is almost the same as that of sea water. Consequently, they can freely float in water any depth. The stigma is also very long in this plant. If the pollen comes in contact with the stigma, it coils around water. 

The most recognized pollinators are the various species of bees, which are plainly adapted to pollination. Bees typically are fuzzy and carry an electrostatic charge. Both features help pollen grains adhere to their bodies but they also have specialized pollen carrying structures; in most bees takes the form of a structure known as scopa, which is on the hind  legs of most bees, and or the lower abdomen made up of thick plumose setae. Honey bees, bumblebees and their relatives do not have a scopa, but the hind leg is modified into a struture called the corbicula. Most bees gather nectar, a concentrated energy source and pollen, which is high protein food, to nurture their young and inadvertently transfer some among the flowers as they are working.

Vallisnaria is the genus of aquatic plant. In this plant, pollination is done by pollinating agent i.e., water. Female flowers have long stalk and appears on the surface of the water. When the male flower releases pollen grain it reaches to the stigma of female flower through water current.

Corss pollination is when pollen from one plant pollinates flowers on a different plant. With maize, cross-pollination is preferred because it is a monoecious crop with male and female flowers in separate parts of the same plant. So, male part produces a large number of pollen grains, which are then distributed by wind to other female parts of another maize plants.
Thus, the correct answer is option (D), 'Cross pollinated by wind'.

The most recognized pollinators are the various species of bees, which are plainly adapted to pollination. Bees typically are fuzzy and carry an electrostatic charge. Both featured help pollen grains adhere to their bodies, but they also have specialized pollen carrying structures; in most bees , this takes the form of a structure known as the scopa, which is on the hind legs of most bees, and the lower abdomen, made up of thick, plumose setae, honey bees, bumble bees and their relatives do not have a scopa, but the hind leg is modified into a structure called as corbicula. Most bees gather nectar, a concentrated energy source and pollen, which is high protein food, to nurture their young and inadvertently transfer some among the flowers as they are working.

• Hydrophily is the pollination by means of water. In Vallisneria, the male flower is detached from the plant and float on the surface of the water and is bought in the contact of the stigma of the female flower. 

Insect-pollinated flowers usually possess sticky and heavy pollens with a rough surface that allow them to stick to insects easily. Flowers also have sweet nectar that attracts insects that go from flower to flower to pollinate the flowers. The pollen grains are also in small quantities, because it is very likely that insects will enter another flower, and the pollen grains would have a higher chance of landing on the stigma. That's why there is no need of pollen grains in large quantities. 

• Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male anther to the female stigma. It is carried out with the help of animals, birds, insects, water, wind, etc. 
• The pollination carried out by insects is called entomophily. 
• Pollination carried out by water is called hydrophily. Pollination carried out by the wind is called anemophily.
•  Pollination carried out by the animals is called zoophily. 

Pollination mechanism in Salvia is a unique lever type. The flowers in this genus are arranged in thyrsus inflorescence and they are attractive and well adapted for cross-pollination through the agency of insects. In this lever mechanism of pollination, the Corolla has a spreading upper lip, which acts as a landing place for the insect. When the insects land on the lower lip of the corolla and in its endeavour to obtain nectar that is secreted by the hypogynous disc, pushes the sterile lobes of the stamen inwards. Due to this the upper half of the connective with the fertile lobes act as a lever. Then the anther lobe comes down and shed the pollen on the back of the insect.

• The pollination mechanism in Salvia is a unique lever type. The flowers in this genus are arranged in thyrsus inflorescence and they are attractive and well adapted for cross-pollination through the agency of insects. 
• In this lever mechanism of pollination, the Corolla has a spreading upper lip, which acts as a landing place for the insect. When the insects land on the lower lip of the corolla and in its endeavor to obtain nectar that is secreted by the hypogynous disc, pushes the sterile lobes of the stamen inwards.
•  Due to this the upper half of the connective with the fertile lobes acts as a lever. Then the anther lobe comes down and shed the pollen on the back of the insect.

Lever mechanism for pollination is characteristic feature of Salvia. The flowers in this genus are arranged in thysrus inflorescence and they are attractive and well adapted for cross pollination through the agency of insects. In this mechanism of pollination, the corolla has a spreading upper lip, which acts as a landing place for the insect. When the insects land on the lower lip of the corolla and in its endeavour to obtain nectar that is secreted by the hypogynous disc, pushes the sterile lobes of the stamen inwards. Due to this the upper half of the connective with the fertile lobes act as a lever. Then the anther lobe comes down and shed the pollen on the back of the insect.

• Blastophaga quadriceps, the legitimate pollinator of Ficus religiosa, possesses two thoracic pockets in which pollen is stored for subsequent introduction into the young figs.  
• Pocket loading takes place in the nearly ripe fig at the male phase. Impregnated female wasps leave the fig via narrow channels bored by the males. 
• Upon entering young receptive figs, the female wasps begin oviposition, during which pocket emptying and pollination takes place.

Pollination by means of water is called as Hydrophily. In Vallisneria, the male flower is detached from the plant and it will float on the water and are bought in the contact of the stigma of the female flower.

Insect visit flowers to get nectar. The attraction of flower in plants is not to diverge the insect from damaging other part, but to bring about pollination (i.e., transfer of pollen to the stigma).

All the flowers are important to plant as they attract pollinators by producing nectar, attracting pollinators and helps to plants in the reproduction process by pollination.

Pollination through insect is called as entamophily in which insect is attracted by nectar secreted by flower and colorful petals.

In Vallisneria, pollination is hydrophilous. Pollination carried out through water is hydrophily. Light and unwettable pollen grains are present in these plants. Pollen grains are surrounded by mucilaginous covering, hence protected from wetting.

Many flowers produce nectar. When an insect lands on a flower to feed, pollen grains stick to its body. As the insect moves to another flower of the same species, these pollen grains are transferred to the flower’s stigma and pollination occurs.

Pollination
in Vallisneria is epihydriphilous. It is a type of hydrophily which occurs on
the surface of water. The female flower have a very long pedicel, therefore it
reaches the surface of water. Male flowers after breakage floats on the surface
of water. Pollen grains are released on to the surface of water. They are
carried passively by water currents, some of them eventually reach the female
flowers and the stigma.

Anemophily is a type of pollination in which pollination takes place with the help of wind. Entomophily is a type of pollination in which pollination takes place through insect. Myrmecophily is a mutual association of some plants with ants to save themselves from other animals. Hydrophily is a type of pollination in which pollination occurs through flow of water. 

The Yucca moth is also termed as the Pronuba moth. It is a small white moth that lives in the semi-arid habitats where Yucca plants grow. The Yucca moth is well-known for its relationship with the Yucca plant. The Yucca moth’s larvae are relying on the seeds of the Yucca plant as a primary food source. No one can exist without the other, creating an obligate mutualism between the moth and the plant. It is true for types of Yucca moths such as Tegeticula .

 So correct answer is option B.

In Salvia, pollination occurs through the agency of insects. When insects are the pollinating agents, then pollination is known as entomophily. These are the most common biotic agents of pollination. Bees are the most common insect which acts as pollinating agents. Other insect pollinators are butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, moths. Majority of insect-pollinated flowers are large-sized. Small-sized flowers are clustered into an inflorescence. Flowers are colourful and fragrant. Nectaries are present. The pollen grain is sticky.

Pollination is processed by the agent which transfers pollen from the pollen sac or anther to the stigma or ovule in the flower. Pollination done by snails is called malacophily. Such type of flowers is called as malacophilous. These flowers achieve pollination only by the help of snails and slugs.

Thus, the correct answer is malacophily.

Correct option is B.

Fragrant flowers with well-developed nectaries are an adaptation for entomophily. In entomophily, insects are the pollinating agents. These are the most common biotic agents of pollination. Bees are the most common insect which acts as pollinating agents. Other insect pollinators are butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, moths. Majority of insect-pollinated flowers are large-sized. These flowers are colorful and possess fragrance to attract the insects. Nectar is given as a reward to insects. Thus, option C is correct.

The process of transfer of pollen grains from the anther to stigmatic surface of the flower with the help of water is hydrophily. Pollination by water is quite rare in flowering plants and is limited to about 30 genera, mostly monocots, e.g. freshwater plants like Vallisneria, Hydrilla; marine water plants like Zostera. Light unwettable pollen grains are present in these plants. Pollen grains are surrounded by mucilaginous covering, hence protected from wetting. Stigma is long, sticky and unwettable.

Both wind and water pollinated flowers typically lack bright colors, nectar, and scent, as they do not need to attract animal pollinators. They rely on the physical movement of the medium to transport pollen.

In hydrophily (pollination by water), pollen grains are often protected by a mucilaginous covering to prevent wetting and have a specific gravity that allows them to float or remain submerged at the level of the stigma.

Zostera is a marine seagrass and Vallisneria is a freshwater plant, both of which are pollinated by water. Water Hyacinth and Amorphophallus are pollinated by insects.

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from a male part of a plant (anthers) to a female part of a plant (stigma), enabling later fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by the wind. Pollination is a very important part of the life cycle of plants. Entomophily or insect pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen of plants, is distributed by insects. A major role of the insect is that of pollinator, meaning they transfer pollen from plant to plant (or sometimes within the same plant), which results in the development of a seed.

When the flowers are pollinated by insects, it is called entomophily. Such flowers has evolved mechanisms to make themselves more appealing or conspicuous to insects by having bright colors or scented flowers, nectar or appealing shapes and patterns.
Thus, the correct answer is option (C), 'Flowers are conspicuous and scented having nectar'.

Anemophily

• Zostera is the marine seagrass which gets pollinated by water. Pollens are released in water and capture by stigmas.
  
• In Viola, the flowers get pollinated by bees.
• In Oxalis and Commelina, there is no need for pollinator as they are closed flowers. There is no chance of cross-pollination. 
• In Yucca, the flowers are pollinated by yucca moth.

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from a male part of a plant (anther) to a female part of a plant (stigma), enabling later fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by the wind. Hydrophily is a fairly uncommon form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by the flow of waters, particularly in rivers and streams. Epihydrophily is a pseudo hydrophily that occurs on the surface of the water. Vallisneria pollen grains are released on the surface of the water, which are passively carried away by water currents; some of them eventually reach the female flower.