Question

Sulphur shower of Pinus represent
A. Winged seeds
B. Three celled male gametophytes
C. Male strobili
D. Four celled male gametophytic generation

Answer 1

Hint: The genus Pinus belongs to family Pinaceae. They are cone bearing plants known as conifers. The male flowers of the plants are short lived – they die after producing and shedding pollen. The Sulphur shower phenomenon is concerned with the pollination of the Pinus species.

Complete answer:
The male and female cones of the Pinus occur in the same plant, that is these are monoecious species. The male cones live for a short period of time. They die soon after they release their pollen grains. The pollen grains of Pinus are winged structures. They are dispersed for pollination by wind.
The Sulphur shower is a phenomenon by which the Pinus species release their pollen grains. The pollen grains of Pinus are yellow in colour. When the male cones release the pollens, they appear to be a yellow cloud. This is why the phenomenon is known as the Sulphur shower. However, the presence of Sulphur is not associated with the process. It is the yellow colour of the pollen that gives the name Sulphur shower.
The Sulphur shower causes the floors of the pine forests to become yellow in colour. In this way most of the pollen formed by the plant is always wasted. Only a handful is transferred by the wind to reach the female cones. The winds carry the pollen to the female cones of the same or different plant.
Therefore, the Sulphur shower in Pinus represents winged seeds.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: The Pinus species have two types of cones: male and female. The male cones release pollen grains that are yellow in colour. The males are known to release huge amounts of pollen. The pollen grains of Pinus are winged seeds and pollinated by means of wind. The release of a huge number of yellow pollen in the form of a cloud is known as the Sulphur shower.