Module: | Pre-fertilization: Micro/Megasporogenesis
Q13: Consider the following statements regarding entomophily (insect pollination) and mutualistic interactions:
1. Flowers pollinated by flies and beetles typically secrete foul odours to attract these specific biotic agents.
2. The relationship between the Yucca plant and the Pronuba moth is an obligate mutualism where neither can complete its life cycle without the other.
3. Nectar and pollen grains are the usual floral rewards provided by plants to sustain repeated animal visits.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
2. The relationship between the Yucca plant and the Pronuba moth is an obligate mutualism where neither can complete its life cycle without the other.
3. Nectar and pollen grains are the usual floral rewards provided by plants to sustain repeated animal visits.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
✅ Correct Answer: D
The correct option is D. All three statements are correct.
Entomophily relies on biotic agents, primarily insects, and represents a complex co-evolutionary system.
Structurally, these flowers are large, colorful, fragrant, and rich in nectar to attract pollinators.
For specific niches, such as fly and beetle pollination, flowers mimic the scent of decaying matter (foul odours) to attract scavengers.
A historical and extreme example of causal co-evolution is the Yucca plant and the Pronuba moth.
The moth deposits its eggs in the locule of the plant's ovary while simultaneously depositing pollen on the stigma.
The moth larvae feed on a subset of the developing seeds.
Without the moth, the Yucca cannot be pollinated; without the Yucca, the moth larvae have no food source, making it a strict obligate mutualism.
Entomophily relies on biotic agents, primarily insects, and represents a complex co-evolutionary system.
Structurally, these flowers are large, colorful, fragrant, and rich in nectar to attract pollinators.
For specific niches, such as fly and beetle pollination, flowers mimic the scent of decaying matter (foul odours) to attract scavengers.
A historical and extreme example of causal co-evolution is the Yucca plant and the Pronuba moth.
The moth deposits its eggs in the locule of the plant's ovary while simultaneously depositing pollen on the stigma.
The moth larvae feed on a subset of the developing seeds.
Without the moth, the Yucca cannot be pollinated; without the Yucca, the moth larvae have no food source, making it a strict obligate mutualism.