Title: Plant Reproduction
Course: Question Banks

Q: The sporophyte develops from the ________.
- haploid gametes (Incorrect. The sporophyte is not a haploid organism.)
- triploid megaspore (Incorrect. The sporophyte does not develop from a triploid megaspore.)
- diploid zygote (Correct. The sporophyte develops from the diploid zygote, which is produced by fusion of the haploid gametes.)
A: diploid zygote

Q: The ________ produces haploid gametes by mitosis.
- sporophyte (Incorrect. The sporophyte does not produce haploid gametes by mitosis.)
- sporangium (Incorrect. The sporangium does not produce haploid gametes by mitosis.)
- gametophyte (Correct. The haploid gametophyte produces male and female haploid gametes in distinct structures.)
A: gametophyte

Q: In vascular plants, the ________ is the dominant phase of the lifecycle.
- sporangium (Incorrect. All plants have a sporangium but it is never a dominant phase of the lifecycle.)
- gametophyte (Incorrect. The haploid organism is the dominant phase of a nonvascular plant’s lifecycle.)
- sporophyte (Correct. The sporophyte is dominant in “higher” vascular plants.)
A: sporophyte

Q: The ________ helps to protect the unopened bud.
- corolla (Incorrect. The corolla is the second whorl of a flower, comprised of petals.)
- gynoecium (Incorrect. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl and contains the female reproductive parts.)
- calyx (Correct. The calyx is the outermost whorl of the flower, composed of sepals that help protect the unopened bud.)
A: calyx

Q: The gynoecium is composed of ________.
- layers of petals (Incorrect. The corolla is the second whorl of a flower, comprised of petals.)
- sepals that help protect the unopened bud (Incorrect. The calyx is the outermost whorl of the flower, composed of sepals that help protect the unopened bud.)
- the stigma, style, and ovary (Correct. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl and contains the female reproductive parts.)
A: the stigma, style, and ovary

Q: Mother microspores ultimately give rise to ________.
- two synergids (Incorrect. The two synergids are some of the cells produced by the haploid megaspore.)
- a tetrad (Incorrect. A tetrad is an intermediate structure in the division of a microspore.)
- four pollen grains (Correct. A mother microspore will undergo meiosis and mitosis during the process that forms four mature pollen grains.)
A: four pollen grains

Q: In angiosperms, mature pollen grains are released from the ________.
- pollen tube (Incorrect. The pollen tube is the tube used by the generative cells to enter the ovary.)
- style (Incorrect. The style is part of the female carpel.)
- anther (Correct. The microsporangia that the tip of the anther bursts, releasing mature pollen grains.)
A: anther

Q: The ________ allows the pollen tube to enter the embryo sac for fertilization.
- synergid (Incorrect. The two synergids help guide the pollen tube to the egg cell.)
- integument (Incorrect. The integument protects the megasporangium.)
- micropyle (Correct. The micropyle is an opening in the integument that allows the pollen tube to enter the embryo sac.)
A: micropyle

Q: In angiosperms, the female gametophyte is ________.
- exposed in the flower (Incorrect. Gymnosperm female gametophytes are exposed on the bracts of the cone, but there are no flowers.)
- on a separate structure from the male (Incorrect. Angiosperm male and female gametophytes are both part of the flower.)
- enclosed in an ovule (Correct. Angiosperm ovule enclose and protect the female gametophyte.)
A: enclosed in an ovule

Q: In gymnosperms, the ________ is the larger structure.
- male gametophyte (Incorrect. The male cone is much smaller in gymnosperm.)
- seed (Incorrect. The seed is a smaller structure contained with the female cone.)
- female gametophyte (Correct. The female gametophyte is the more familiar pine cone.)
A: female gametophyte

Q: ________ pollen is carried by wind.
- Angiosperms (Incorrect. Angiosperm pollen is not just wind-borne.)
- Bryophytes (Incorrect. Bryophyte sperm is carried by water.)
- Gymnosperms (Correct. Gymnosperm pollen is wind-borne.)
A: Gymnosperms

Q: In gymnosperms, the female gametophyte is contained within the ________.
- microsporophylls (Incorrect. Microsporophylls are the sites were microspores (male gametophytes) develop.)
- megasporophylls (Incorrect. Megasporophylls are the bracts on female cones.)
- archegonium (Correct. The archegonium contains the female gametophyte in gymnosperm cones.)
A: archegonium

Q: Gymnosperms undergo ________ fertilization.
- self- (Incorrect. Self-fertilization is rare in gymnosperms since their pollen is wind-borne.)
- double
- single (Correct. Gymnosperms have only a single fertilization event for each fusion of the male and female gametophytes.)
A: single

Q: Gladiolus and garlic reproduce asexually using a ________.
- bulb (Incorrect. Bulbs are used by lilies and daffodils for asexual reproduction.)
- stolon (Incorrect. A stolon, or runner, is used by strawberries and mint for asexual reproduction.)
- corm (Correct. The corm is a modified root used for asexual reproduction by garlic and gladiolus, among others.)
A: corm

Q: During ________, an ovule or ovary can give rise to a seed without fertilization occurring.
- grafting (Incorrect. Grafting does not involve the ovule or ovary.)
- adventitious rooting (Incorrect. Ivy plants use adventitious roots that arise from the plant body for asexual reproduction. This does not involve the ovary or ovule.)
- apomixis (Correct. Apomixis is a type of asexual reproduction in which the female reproductive cell gives rise to a new seed.)
A: apomixis

Q: Asexual reproduction works best in ________.
- temperate climates (Incorrect. This is not necessarily the best environment for asexual reproduction.)
- stressful conditions (Incorrect. Asexual reproduction is not best suited for stressful conditions.)
- stable environments (Correct. Plants that reproduce asexually survive well in stable environmental conditions.)
A: stable environments

Q: The kalanchoe can reproduce asexually by ________.
- stolons (Incorrect. The kalanchoe does not use stolons for asexual reproduction.)
- adventitious roots (Incorrect. The kalanchoe does not use adventitious roots for asexual reproduction.)
- bud-bearing leaves (Correct. When these leaves detach from the main plant, they will grow into independent plants.)
A: bud-bearing leaves

Q: Grafting is commonly used in the ________ industry.
- potato (Incorrect. Potatoes are farmed by “cutting,” where the potato is cut into sections containing eyes and then planted.)
- floral (Incorrect. While some flowers, such as roses, can be grown by grafting, not many flowers are grown this way.)
- grape (Correct. Grapes and citrus are both grown by grafting a desirable scion to a stock.)
A: grape

Q: ________ requires a laboratory environment for plant propagation.
- Cutting (Incorrect. Cutting can be performed in a natural environment.)
- Layering (Incorrect. Layering can be performed in a natural environment.)
- Micropropagation (Correct. Plant tissue culture requires a sterile laboratory environment to quickly propagate a large number of plants in a short time.)
A: Micropropagation

Q: ________ have a lifecyle of two years or more.
- Annuals (Incorrect. An annual completes its lifecyle in one season.)
- Biennials (Incorrect. Biennials complete their lifecycles in two seasons, not years.)
- Perennials (Correct. Perennials require two years or more to complete their lifecycles.)
A: Perennials

Q: Fruit trees are ________ species that flower yearly.
- annual (Incorrect. No tree is an annual.)
- seasonal (Incorrect. While plants do flower at different times of the year, the term ‘seasonal’ is not officially used to indicate the frequency of flowering.)
- polycarpic (Correct. Some polycarpic species, like fruit trees, flower yearly.)
A: polycarpic

Q: The aging process in plants is known as ________.
- maturing (Incorrect. This term is not used to describe aging in plants.)
- ripening (Incorrect. This term is not used to describe aging in plants.)
- senescence (Correct. Senescence is the aging of a plant and the associated processes.)
A: senescence

Q: When a flower fertilizes a different flower on the same plant ________ has occurred.
- cross-pollination (Incorrect. Cross-pollination involves the flowers of two different plants.)
- cis-pollination (Incorrect. There is no such thing as cis-pollination.)
- self-pollination (Correct. Self-pollination occurs in a single plant: it may involve the anther and stimage of a single flower, or two different flowers.)
A: self-pollination

Q: Species that ________ are more genetically diverse.
- insect-pollinate (Incorrect. Insect-pollinated plants are not necessarily more genetically diverse.)
- self-pollinate (Incorrect. Self-pollinated plants contain genetic material from only one plant, reducing genetic diversity.)
- cross-pollinate (Correct. Genetic material from two different plants is involved in cross-pollination, increasing genetic diversity.)
A: cross-pollinate

Q: ________ species have male and female flowers on different plants.
- Dimorphic (Incorrect. This refers to marked differences in the sexes in animal species.)
- Heterostyly (Incorrect. Heterostyly plants have two different flower types to prevent self-fertilization.)
- Dioecious (Correct. Dioecious plants have male and female flowers on different plants to prevent self-fertilization.)
A: Dioecious

Q: Flowers use ________ to guide bees to the center of the flower and increase pollination efficiency.
- the color red (Incorrect. Bees cannot see the color red.)
- strong aromas (Incorrect. Strong aromas will attract bees in general, but will not help increase pollination efficiency.)
- nectar guides (Correct. Nectar guides are flower regions visible only to bees and help guide the bees to the center of the flower for more efficient pollination.)
A: nectar guides

Q: ________ often pollinate night blooming flowers.
- Bees (Incorrect. Bees are only active during the day.)
- Birds (Incorrect. Few birds are active during the night; none of these are pollinators.)
- Bats (Correct. Bats pollinate night blooming flowers such as agave and morning glories.)
A: Bats

Q: ________ occurs when orchids are brightly colored and perfumed but contain no nectar.
- Sexual deception (Incorrect. This is the process by which a flower emits pheromones, and may have a shape, that attracts insects like a potential mate.)
- Bait-and-switch (Incorrect. This term is not used to describe any orchid pollination strategy.)
- Food deception (Correct. The colors and aroma attract pollinators but there is no food for the insects.)
A: Food deception

Q: After fertilization has occurred in angiosperms, the tissues of the ________ become the fruit.
- ovule (Incorrect. The fertilized ovule becomes the seed.)
- endosperm (Incorrect. The endosperm alone does not become the fruit.)
- ovary (Correct. The tissues of the ovary become the fruit, usually enveloping the seed it is supporting.)
A: ovary

Q: The developing seedling relies on food reserves stored in the ________ until it can perform photosynthesis itself.
- endosperm (Incorrect. The endosperm is no longer present by the time a seed germinates into a seedling.)
- suspensor (Incorrect. The suspensor connects the terminal cell with the maternal plant and provides nutrients to the proembryo.)
- cotyledons (Correct. The cotyledons store food reserves while the embryo is developing within the seed. After germination, they “feed” the seedling until it can photosynthesize.)
A: cotyledons

Q: During double fertilization, one sperm fuses with the egg and the other with the ________.
- antipodals (Incorrect. The antipodals break down in the ovary; they are not fertilized.)
- synergids (Incorrect. The synergids direct the pollen tube to the embryo sac.)
- polar nuclei (Correct. This creates the 3n endosperm that supports the developing proembryo.)
A: polar nuclei

Q: Dicots and monocots are distinguished by the number of ________ they have.
- endosperm (Incorrect. Not all seeds maintain the endosperm, but these are simply called “non-endospermic.”)
- hypocotyl (incorrect. All seeds have only one hypocotyl.)
- cotyledons (Correct. Dicots have two cotyledons, monocots only one.)
A: cotyledons

Q: The ________ protects the emerging primary shoot.
- epicotyl (Incorrect. The epicotyl is the part of the embryonic axis above the cotyledons.)
- coleorhiza (Incorrect. The coleorhiza is a sheath protecting the root of germinating grass or grain.)
- coleoptile (Correct. The emerging primary shoot is protected by the coleoptile covering.)
A: coleoptile

Q: Some seeds require ________ to guarantee they do not germinate in the winter.
- scarification (Incorrect. This involves mechanical or chemical processing to soften the coat and has nothing to do with seasons.)
- dormancy (Incorrect. Dormancy is simply a period of inactivity that seeds may enter until environmental conditions are right for germination.)
- vernalization (Correct. Vernalization is a cold treatment; it will occur naturally during the winter, ensuring seeds do not germinate until after the weather warms.)
A: vernalization

Q: True fruits develop from the ________.
- ovule (Incorrect. The fertilized ovule becomes the seed.)
- receptacle (Incorrect. A receptacle could give rise to an accessory fruits, as in the case for strawberries.)
- ovary (Correct. The tissues of the ovary become true fruit, usually enveloping the seed it is supporting.)
A: ovary

Q: ________ fruits develop from an inflorescence.
- Aggregate (Incorrect. Aggregate fruits develop from more than one carpel, but all from the same flower.)
- Simple (Incorrect. Simple fruits develop from a single carpel or fused carpels of a single ovary.)
- Multiple (Correct. Multiple fruit develops from a cluster of flowers.)
A: Multiple

Q: Usually, the fleshy edible part of a fruit comes from the ________.
- exocarp (Incorrect. The exocarp is the outermost covering of fruit; it may or may not be edible (think the skin of an apple versus the skin of a banana).)
- endocarp (Incorrect. The endocarp is not edible in most fruit, but it is in some, such as the almond.)
- mesocarp (Correct. The middle part of most fruits is the edible, fleshy part.)
A: mesocarp

Q: The sole purpose of a fruit is ________.
- seed protection (Incorrect. Fruit may protect seeds but this is not their single, most important purpose.)
- to feed the seedling (Incorrect. This is the role of the cotyledons.)
- seed dispersal (Correct. The single purpose of fruit is seed dispersal.)
A: seed dispersal

Q: Wind-borne fruit may have ________ to aid in their dispersal.
- hooks (Incorrect. Hooks or sticky structures are used by animal-dispersed fruit; these catch in the coats of passing animals.)
- buoyancy (Incorrect. Buoyancy is important for water-dispersed fruits like coconuts.)
- wing-like appendages (Correct. Many wind-dispersed fruit are lightweight with wing-like appendages to aid in their movement on air currents.)
A: wing-like appendages

Q: Seed dispersal is necessary to ________.
- increase genetic diversity (Incorrect. Genetic diversity is determined at the time, and by the route, of pollination.)
- expand a plant species’ range (Incorrect. Seeds still need the same basic environment, and therefore range, as the parental plant. Dispersal does not change this.)
- reduce resource competition (Correct. Ideally seeds will disperse some distance from the mother plant, reducing competition for scarce resources.)
A: reduce resource competition