Question

Identify the correct pair of statements.
(i) White kernel of Coconut is a free nuclear endosperm
(ii) In dioecious plants, autogamy is prevented but geitonogamy occurs
(iii) Cleistogamous flowers are always self-pollinated
(iv) Castor is an endospermic seed.

a. i, ii
b. iii, iv
c. ii, iv
d. ii, iii

Answer 1

Hint: Cleistogamous flowers do not open up. They remain as buds always. Thus, for reproduction they should contain both male and female reproductive organs. Castors are seeds that have unutilized endosperm.

Complete answer:
Coconut has free nuclear endosperm: Endosperm is the source of nutrition to the developing embryo and the seed. In angiosperm, the endosperm develops from triploid nucleus which is formed from vegetative fertilization in which a male gametes with the secondary nucleus of the central cell. Now the development of this triploid nucleus produced development takes place in three ways. In which, the primary endosperm nucleus divides by mitotic division without formation of cell walls. Thus, the kernel of coconut is a cellular endosperm.

Dioecious plants have male and female parts or male and female reproductive organs on different plants. That is, one plant can have only male or female reproductive system. Geitonogamy is the process of transfer of pollen grains, that is, male gametes from another to the stigma of another flower on the same plant.

Cleistogamy is the process where the flower of the plant never opens. Thus, to reproduce they can undergo only self-pollination within the unopened flower also known as bud. Such bisexual flowers which have only bud formation are called as cleistogamous flowers.

Castor is a seed having endoplasmic properties in which the endosperm of the flower is not fully utilized by the seed development or by embryo development.

So, now we can say that among the given statements, statement-iii and statement-iv are correct.
Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: In dioecious plants geitonogamy is prevented because male and female reproductive organs are not present on the same plant. They are present on different plants. In dioecious plants autogamy is also prevented due to the same reason.