In Order for an Ovule (Egg Cell) in a Flower

question 55

Multiple Choice

In order for an ovule (egg cell) in a flower to be fertilized and form a viable seed, pollination must occur. In this process, a sperm cell is delivered to the ovule when the pollen grain lands on the stigma and grows a tube, which enters the ovary and discharges the sperm cell to form a diploid zygote when it fuses with the egg cell. Although it only takes one pollen grain to successfully deliver sperm to the egg, numerous pollen grains are generally transferred to the stigma during insect pollination of flowering plants. Which phenotypic traits of pollen would you predict to be selected upon to promote survival and fitness within an insect-pollinated flowering plant?

• A) high pollen tube growth rate and ability to detect chemicals from cells surrounding the egg
• B) ability to produce the most cells during mitotic growth of the pollen tube
• C) elaborate and striking UV "nectary guides" on the petals to guide an insect to the stigma
• D) larger pollen in order to carry the tube that is necessary for delivery of the sperm cells

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