Question

Anthesis is absent in cleistogamy because?

• A. No pollination is required.
• B. It allows xenogamy.
• C. It assures heterozygosity.
• D. It favors insect pollination.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

No pollination is required.

The correct option is A.

Explanation of correct option:

1. Anthesis refers to the period when a flower is open and functional.
2. Cleistogamy is a type of self-pollination which is observed in cleistogamous flowers.
3. Cleistogamous flowers always remain closed. In this type of flower, stigma and anthers are close to each other and cross-pollination is no way possible.
4. Anthesis is absent in cleistogamy since no pollination is required for cleistogamous flowers.

Explanation of incorrect option:

Option B:

1. In xenogamy, pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma of a completely different plant.
2. Cleistogamy doesn’t allow xenogamy because it is a self-pollination process.

Option C:

1. Heterozygosity is mostly observed in plants that undergo cross-pollination.
2. Cleistogamy increases homozygosity since it doesn’t allow cross-pollination.

Option D:

1. Insect pollinators help in transferring pollen grains from one plant to another plant.
2. Cleistogamy does not favor insect pollination since the flower doesn’t open at all.

Final answer: Anthesis is absent in cleistogamy because no pollination is required.