Question

The seed of black pepper is
(A)Endospermic
(B)Exalbuminous
(C)Acotyledonous
(D)Perispermic

Answer 1

Hint Seeds are divided into various categories depending on their nutrient storage, number of cotyledons, etc. Most of the seeds contain their nutrient in the endosperm but some variations are also seen.

Complete answer:
Here seed of black pepper is Perispermic as it contains the nutritive tissue of the seed called perisperm. This kind of seed is seen in the case of black pepper, coffee, cardamom, etc. The perisperm is derived from the tacrine or nucellus and consists mainly of Parenchymatous cells that are rich in starch or oil. The perisperm, together with the endosperm, constitutes the albumen.

Additional Information:
Endospermic seeds store food in their endosperm and are also known as albuminous seeds. This kind of seed is found in the case of castor, barley, coconut, etc. The endosperm in these seeds covers the embryo and acts as the sole food storage organ. Therefore, it is fleshy and oily.
Unlike albuminous seeds, exalbuminous seeds store food in their cotyledons and therefore, are also known as non- endospermic seeds. Some examples of such seeds are gram, pea, etc.
Acotyledonous seeds lack cotyledons of which are significant parts of the embryo within a seed of a plant. Plants like orchids and dodder lack cotyledon in their seeds.

So, the correct answer is "Perispermic".

Note: In angiosperms, the nutrient or food is mainly stored in the endosperm part of the seed which is a derivation of the mother plant and the pollen via double fertilization. Some are non- endospermic where the food is stored in the cotyledons instead of the endosperm. In this case, the endosperm is absorbed by the embryo. These kinds of seeds have no endosperm in them.