Biology · Environmental Studies

Plant Reproduction and Germination

892 Questions

Plant reproduction and germination involve seed structure, cotyledon function, and dispersal mechanisms. These core botany concepts frequently appear in general science sections. Practice these questions to ensure better retention.

Seed germination typesSeed dispersal mechanismsCotyledons and albuminous seedsCryptogamic plantsPhanerogams reproduction

Plant Reproduction and Germination Questions

Multiple choice biology reproduction in higher plants growth and development in plants sexual reproduction in plants post fertilization - plants

Which light is most effective in seed germination?

  1. Green

  2. Far red

  3. Red

  4. Blue

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Many seeds are insensitive to light, but in a number of species, germination is stimulated or inhibited by exposure to continuous or short periods of illumination. So stimulated are many grasses, lettuce, fireweed, peppergrass, mullein, evening primrose, yellow dock, loosestrife, and Chinese lantern plant. Corn, the smaller cereals, and many legumes, such as beans and clover, germinate as well in light as in darkness.
Inhibition by light is found in chive, garlic, and several other species of the lily family, jimsonweed, fennel flower. Sometimes, imbibed (wet) seeds that do not germinate at all in darkness may be fully promoted by only a few seconds or minutes of exposure to white light or to karrikin. The best-studied case of this type, and one that is a milestone in plant physiology, concerns seeds of the Grand Rapids variety of lettuce, which is stimulated to germination by red light (wavelength about 660 nanometres) but inhibited by far-red light (wavelength about 730 nanometres). Red light inhibits stem elongation and lateral root formation but stimulates leaf expansion, chloroplast development, red flower coloration, and spore germination. Such stimulation by red light can be reversed by exposure to far-red light. So, red light is most effective in seed germination compared to green, blue and far red light. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology reproduction in higher plants growth and development in plants sexual reproduction in plants post fertilization - plants

A seed is cut into two halves and immersed in 0.1% triphenyl chloride solution. Its viability is indicated by development of colouration

  1. Yellow

  2. Red

  3. Blue

  4. Green

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Tetrazolium salt stains all living tissue in the seed embryo red. Thus, enabling trained analysts to determine the seeds viability or otherwise. The tetrazolium test is used to give a quick estimate of germination potential. The result of a tetrazolium test will generally predict the germination test result closely, however the tetrazolium test will not detect certain types of abnormalities nor will it give any indication of disease levels, chemical damage or dormancy. The viability of a seed is tested by tetrazolium salts. The viable seeds when respire reduce the colourless tetradyes into highly coloured compounds, i.e. 2, 3, 5 triphenyltetrazolium chloride is reduced to triphenylformazon which is red in colour. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice biology reproduction in higher plants growth and development in plants sexual reproduction in plants post fertilization - plants

After fertilization, ovule grows into 

  1. Seed

  2. Fruit

  3. Placenta

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

After fertilization, zygote is formed which develops embryo, which forms the future plant. The endosperm cells serve as a source of nutrition for the developing embryo. The ovule becomes the seed. The ovary becomes the fruit. In most of the plants the antipodals and synergids disintegrate before, during or immediately after fertilization. The outer and inner integuments of the ovule become the testa or the seed coat of the seed.  Petals and sepals fall off. 
Thus, the correct answer is option (A), 'Seed.'

Multiple choice biology reproduction in higher plants growth and development in plants sexual reproduction in plants post fertilization - plants

Which major change occured in germination of spores during evolution of seed?

  1. Endosporic to exosporic

  2. Exosporic to endosporic

  3. Direct to indirect

  4. No change

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Germination is the process by which a plant grows from a seed. A series of changes in the reproductive biology among the heterosporous plants led to the evolution of seed plants. In seed plants, the megaspore is retained in the megasporangium and the microspore is taken to a pollen chamber at the tip of this organ. The development and fertilization of gametophyte occur within a protected environment. A pattern that showcases evolution of seed is found among the vascular plants. In homosporous vascular plants (plants that produce only one type of spore) have exosporic gametophytesthat is, the gametophyte develops outside of the spore wall. In addition, these exosporic gametophytes are normally bisexual (produce both sperm and eggs). In heterosporous vascular plants (presence of both microspores and megaspores), development of gametophyte is endoscopic and gametophytes are unisex, producing either sperm or eggs.
Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice botany the life cycle of plants parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis asexual reproduction

Select the correct statement regarding parthenocarpy.

  1. Formation of fruits without fertilisation

  2. Development of seedless fruits as in banana, grapes, navel orange, etc

  3. Auxins and gibberellins are used to include parthenocarpy in different plants

  4. All of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The formation of fruits without fertilization is called parthenocarpy. Such fruits are either seedless or non-viable seeds. Parthenocarpy is of two types- 

  • Natural parthenocarpy 
when seedless fruits are produced without any special treatment from the ovaries in the absence of pollination and fertilization, the phenomena is called natural parthenocarpy. For example grapes, banana, pineapple.
  • Induced parthenocarpy 
When seedless fruits are produced by spraying the flower with either water extract of pollen grains or growth promoting hormones that have indole acetic acid, GA, the phenomenon is called induce parthenocarpy. For example tomato, apple.
So, the correct option is 'All of these'


Multiple choice botany the life cycle of plants parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis asexual reproduction

What are parthenocarpic fruits?

  1. Fruits enclosed in pods such as pea

  2. Fruits formed Without fertilization

  3. Very hard fruits

  4. Fruits with more than one seed at their centre

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Parthenocarpy  is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of ovules, which makes the fruit seedless. Stenospermocarpy may also produce apparently seedless fruit, but the seeds are actually aborted while they are still small. Parthenocarpy (or stenospermocarpy) occasionally occurs as a mutation in nature; if it affects every flower the plant can no longer sexually reproduce but might be able to propagate by apomixis or by vegetative means. In some plants, pollination or another stimulation is required for parthenocarpy, termed stimulative parthenocarpy. Plants that do not require pollination or other stimulation to produce parthenocarpic fruit have vegetative parthenocarpy. Seedless cucumbers are an example of vegetative parthenocarpy, seedless watermelon is an example of stenospermocarpy.

So the correct option is 'fruits formed without fertilization'.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Parthenocarpy is the production of 

  1. Fruits with pollination

  2. Fruits without fertilization

  3. Seeds with fertilization

  4. Only seeds and no fruits

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In angiosperms, fruits represent ripened ovary of the flower. Fruit formation starts after fertilisation. However, sometimes fruit formation can be carried out without fertilization. Such, fruits are called as parthenocarpic fruits. They are seedless and lack embryo because no fertilization has occurred. Phytohormone auxins promote parthenocarpy. They have been used to induce parthenocarpy in tomatoes.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Parthenocarpy refers to a fruit 

  1. With seeds after pollination

  2. Without seed after pollination

  3. With viable seed after fertilization

  4. Seedless without fertilization

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The answer is D- seedless without fertilization

Parthenocarpy is fruit production without fertilization of ovules resulting in a seedless fruit formation. 
It may be natural or induced artificially.  Examples of parthenocarpy fruits are watermelon and grapefruits.

Multiple choice zoology reproduction in organisms parthenocarpic fruits parthenogenesis the life cycle of plants

Seedless Grapes are the.

  1. Simple Dry fruits

  2. Multiple fruits

  3. Aggregate fruits

  4. Parthenocarpic Fruits

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Simple fruits are from a single flower with one pistil. Aggregate fruits are from a single flower with many pistils. Multiple fruits are from many florets. In the inflorescence, fruitlets fuse together into one, bigger fleshy fruit.

Parthenocarpic fruit matures to be fleshy without the ovules ripening into seeds. The process of producing fruits without the fertilization of any seeds, which makes them seedless, is termed parthenocarpy. Thus answer is Parthenocarpic.

The correct option is D.   

Multiple choice biology classification of plants importance and classification of angiosperms plant adaptation adaptation in plants

Plants whose seeds have more than one seed leaf (cotyledon) are 

  1. Ferns

  2. Dicots

  3. Monocots

  4. Moss

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
On the basis of the number of cotyledons angiosperms are divided into monocots (having one cotyledon) and dicots (having 2 cotyledons). 
General characteristics of dicot.
  • They are two seeded plants.
  • The leaves of dicotyledons have veins in a network.
  • Dicotyledon seeds also contain an embryonic plant.
  • The flowers of dicotyledons have petals and other parts of the flower are arranged in four or five or six. It may contain flowers with four petals, flowers with five petals, flowers have six petals and the stamens also follow this pattern.
  • The seed is protected by a seed coat. For example, trees, sunflower, rose, etc.
Multiple choice botany kingdom plantae uses of bryophytes introduction to bryophytes cryptogams

Water is essential for Bryophyta, because

  1. For fertilization and homosporous nature.

  2. Water should be filled in archegonium for fertilization.

  3. Water is necessary for movement of sperm.

  4. For dissemination spores.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sexual reproduction involves the mixing of genes from two different parents to give offspring with a genetic make-up similar to, but different from, each parent. In Bryophytes the process requires the production of male gametes (sperm), female gametes (eggs) and some means of getting the sperm to the eggs. The gametes are produced on the gametophytes. Water is essential for sexual reproduction in Bryophytes, since it is water that carries the sperm to the egg.

Multiple choice botany kingdom plantae uses of bryophytes introduction to bryophytes cryptogams

Seedless nonvascular plants are

  1. Angiosperm

  2. Gymnosperm

  3. Pteridophyte

  4. Bryophytes

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bryophytes are the cryptogamae, which do not bear flowers and seeds. They are non-vascular land plants of moist habitat, in which diploid sporophyte lives as a parasite on independent haploid gametophyte. 
Pteridophytes are vascular cryptogams due to the presence of vascular tissues in the plant body.
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms are Phanerogams, which possess flowers and seeds.