Question

In Ficus religiosa (peepal), the pollination is affected by
A. Water
B. Insects
C. Birds
D. Air

Answer 1

Hint: Pollination is a process of transfer of pollen from another (the male reproductive part of the plant) to stigma (the female reproductive part of the plant) of the plant. Pollination can be done by water, insects, air or birds. In peepal, pollination usually occurs via organisms that belong to Arthropoda.

Complete answer: The act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma in plants is known as pollination. The transfer of pollen is carried out with the help of vectors. Vectors can be wind, water, butterflies, insects, and other animals visiting the flower. Any animal or insect that transfers pollen grains are said to be pollinators. Pollination is an unintentional process where the pollinators sit on the flower to collect nectar or nutrients when the pollens attach themselves to the animal’s body. The organism when visits another flower, pollen falls off leading to reproduction in plants.
Ficus religiosa (or sacred fig), regionally also known as peepal, is a climber belonging to the Moraceae family or mulberry family. Pollination in Ficus religiosa is affected by an insect named Blastophaga quadriceps. Blastophaga quadriceps possess two thoracic pockets in which pollen grains are collected which are then emptied on the female wasps.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note: Pollination is of two types; self-pollination, where the pollen of a flower from one plant is transferred to the stigma of another flower of the same plant. The second is; cross-pollination, where the pollen is transferred from the anther of the flower from one plant to the stigma of a flower on another plant.