Question

Perisperm is found in -
(a)Black Pepper
(b)Wheat
(c)Maize
(d)Groundnut

Answer 1

Hint: Perisperm should be found in the seed of a plant that is dry and surrounds the embryo of the seed, not a soft or liquid part of it. It should also have diploid genetic material.

Complete answer:
 In some angiosperms, the perisperm is a layer of nutritive tissue derived from the nucellus that surrounds the embryo of the seed. It is a diploid food storing tissue.
- Examples of seeds containing persistent perisperm is black pepper, castor, coffee, cardamom, etc.
- Black pepper or Piper nigrum is a flowering vine that produces drupe fruits.

Additional Information: - The perisperm evolves from the nucleus, while the endosperm emerges from triple fusion i.e. fertilization of the two polar nuclei by the sperm cell.
- The options other than black pepper are examples of seeds containing endosperm, not perisperm.
- Wheat or Triticum aestivum has albuminous seeds, where a part of the endosperm is retained in them.
- Maize or Zea mays is also an albuminous seed.
- Groundnut or Arachis hypogaea is an example of a non-albuminous seed. The endosperm is completely consumed during embryo development and none of it is retained.

So, the correct answer is ‘Black pepper’.

Note: - The perisperm has a diploid genetic makeup, while the endosperm has a triploid genetic makeup.
- The perisperm is dry in nature and supplies nutrition to the endosperm. The endosperm on the other hand is soft or wet. It supplies nutrition to the embryo.
- Seeds of plants such as beets contain both perisperm and endosperm.
- The highest producer of black pepper in the world is Vietnam.