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Question #45310
The Question
Certain angiosperms like Viola and Commelina exhibit floral dimorphism. If a mutation causes a population of Viola to produce exclusively cleistogamous flowers, which of the following would NOT be an expected evolutionary or reproductive consequence?
Options
- A.
The population will bypass pollinator-driven selection pressures, effectively halting floral adaptive radiation.
- B.
The lineage will rapidly accumulate homozygosity, generating genetically uniform lines over successive generations.
- C.
The plants will maintain an assured seed set but will exhibit reduced phenotypic plasticity against novel stressors.
- D.
The flowers will shift to obligate geitonogamy to ensure reproductive success in the absence of cross-pollinating agents.
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Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Cleistogamy vs Chasmogamy|Adaptive Radiation Logic|Outbreeding Device Logic
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Distinguishing between Autogamy and Geitonogamy based on floral structural constraints.
Students often group autogamy and geitonogamy together as 'self-pollination' functionally, forgetting that geitonogamy requires open flowers (chasmogamy) for the physical transfer of pollen between different flowers on the same plant.
The question also tests the synthesis of ecological concepts (adaptive radiation) with reproductive morphology.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants - Class 12 |
| Concept | Cleistogamy vs Chasmogamy |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |