Question

Blastophaga grossorum shows mutualistic relationship with
A. Hypanthodium inflorescence
B. Ficus
C. Phaseolus
D. Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: The term mutualism is defined as a relationship in which both species are mutually benefited. The relationship can be either within the species or between two different species. Mutualism is seen in all living organisms including human beings, animals, birds, plants and microorganisms like bacteria, virus, and fungi. Blastophaga grossorum is a wasp species that has mutual relationships with various plant species and helps in pollination.

Complete answer:
Option A Hypanthodium inflorescence: Hypanthodium inflorescence is a special type of inflorescence. Inflorescence means a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch. Here the female flowers are towards the base and male flowers are towards the orifice. The short styled sterile female flowers are in between them.
Option A is incorrect
Option B Ficus: Ficus is a genus of about \[850\] species of woody trees, shrubs and vines belonging to the family Moraceae. They are also known as fig trees. Blastophaga grossorum, a wasp species lives in a mutualistic relationship with Ficus. They feed and breed off the Ficus plants. In return they benefit the plant by aiding in pollination.
Option B is correct
Option C Phaseolus: Phaseolus is a genus of herbaceous, woody annual or perennial vines belonging to the family Fabaceae. This genus contains about \[70\] plant species, all native to the Americas. They are one of the most economically important legume genera. The Blastophaga grossorum does not exhibit mutualism with Phaseolus.
Option D is incorrect
Option D Both A and B: This option cannot be correct because option A i.e., Hypanthodium inflorescence is wrong.
Option D is incorrect

Option B Ficus is the correct answer.

Note:
Blastophaga grossorum is also known as fig wasps. Fig wasps belong to the superfamily Chalcidoidea. Most of them are pollinators but others simply feed off the plant. Only the pollinators exhibit mutualism with the Ficus plants. The life cycle of the fig wasp is intertwined with that of the fig tree it inhabits. The life cycles of the two groups i.e., Pollinators and Non pollinators are very similar.