Question

Assertion :Self-pollination helps in purity of races, wastage of pollen is avoided and pollination is sure. Reason: Cleistogamy favours self-pollination.

• A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion.
• B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion.
• C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
• D. Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for Assertion.

Cleistogamy or automatic self-pollination is the characteristic of certain plants to propagate by using non-opening, self-pollinating flowers e.g., grasses. The main advantage of cleistogamy is that it requires fewer plant resources to produce seeds than chasmogamous plants because development of petals, nectar and large amounts of pollen are not required. Thus, cleistogamy is particularly useful for seed production on unfavourable sites or adverse conditions. For example, Impatiens capensis has been observed to produce only cleistogamous flowers maintain populations on unfavorable sites. The disadvantage of cleistogamy is that self-fertilization occurs, which may suppress the creation of genetically superior plants. Thus, the correct answer is option B.