Question

In plants, in nature, autogamy is avoided since the seeds produced
A. Are fewer in number
B. Do not germinate successfully
C. Do not produce healthy plants
D. All the above

Answer 1

Hint: Auto gamy is a type of self pollination which involves self fertilization as a means of their reproduction. In this process, gametes that are produced from the same individual flower are fused which results in production of subsequent species having low genetic diversity.

Complete answer:
Autogamy is also referred to as a process of self fertilization. This phenomenon involves fusion of gametes that are coming from one individual flower. It adopts self pollination as a mechanism of their reproduction. This process is mostly observed in flowering plants. In this course, pollens produced in the anther of a flower are transferred to the stigma of the same flower thereby fertilizing the egg cell which is present inside it. However, in nature, autogamy is avoided in plants when seeds produced are fewer in number or if the pollen produced is not capable of fusing with the ovule of its own flower and thus fails to germinate. Autogamy is also avoided when the pollens produced by flowers are not in good health conditions. Generally plants avoid autogamy in order to encourage variations in the characteristics of future generations which can be achieved through cross pollination.

So, the correct answer is option “D”.

Note: Autogamy is also known as self pollination. As this process involves fertilization of gametes that are produced from the same flower, it often results in inbreeding depression. Also, it decreases the disease resistant capability of a plant as this phenomenon doesn’t encourage introduction of new characteristics in the plant species.