Question 1

In a wind-pollinated species, which of these floral parts is likely to be inconspicuous or absent?

Accepted Answer

A) receptacle 
B) stamens 
C) pistils 
D) petals 
A) receptacle 
B) stamens 
C) pistils 
D) petals

Question 2

You go to the movies with a friend, and he refuses to share your popcorn.He says that he heard that movie theatre popcorn is triploid.What is the most likely explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

A) Most corn is genetically modified by large agricultural companies. 
B) The buttery topping on movie theatre popcorn causes chromosomal abnormalities. 
C) Popcorn is made from a different species of maize than regular corn. 
D) All popcorn is triploid, because the starchy part of the kernel is triploid endosperm tissue. 
A) Most corn is genetically modified by large agricultural companies. 
B) The buttery topping on movie theatre popcorn causes chromosomal abnormalities. 
C) Popcorn is made from a different species of maize than regular corn. 
D) All popcorn is triploid, because the starchy part of the kernel is triploid endosperm tissue.

Question 3

Endosperm tissue of angiosperms has what ploidy level?

Accepted Answer

A) n 
B) 2n 
C) 3n 
D) 4n 
A) n 
B) 2n 
C) 3n 
D) 4n

Question 4

A seed that lands in the forest soil is homozygous mutant for the CONSTANS (CO) gene, and as a result does not produce any functional CONSTANS protein.What do you predict will happen during the development of this seed?

Accepted Answer

A) It will germinate and grow vegetatively, but will never produce flowers. 
B) It will fail to germinate. 
C) It will germinate and grow vegetatively, and then it will produce flowers earlier than wildtype. 
D) It will germinate and grow vegetatively.If it is from a photoperiodic species, it will fail to produce flowers. 
A) It will germinate and grow vegetatively, but will never produce flowers. 
B) It will fail to germinate. 
C) It will germinate and grow vegetatively, and then it will produce flowers earlier than wildtype. 
D) It will germinate and grow vegetatively.If it is from a photoperiodic species, it will fail to produce flowers.

Question 5

Thanks to a novel recessive mutation, a certain plant species has begun to invade colder Arctic regions outside of its normal range.However, this cold-tolerant mutation has not yet become fixed in the population.A second mutation arises that promotes self-pollination.Do you predict that the self-pollination allele will be selected for in the Arctic regions? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A) Yes.The self-pollinated plant is more likely to maintain the cold-tolerant mutation, and plants in the Arctic are unlikely to be visited by pollinators. 
B) No.Outcrossing is always beneficial, since it enhances genetic diversity. 
C) No.Plants that produce flowers must be cross-pollinated for proper seed development. 
D) Cannot make a prediction from the information given.It depends on whether the plant is normally insect-pollinated or wind-pollinated. 
A) Yes.The self-pollinated plant is more likely to maintain the cold-tolerant mutation, and plants in the Arctic are unlikely to be visited by pollinators. 
B) No.Outcrossing is always beneficial, since it enhances genetic diversity. 
C) No.Plants that produce flowers must be cross-pollinated for proper seed development. 
D) Cannot make a prediction from the information given.It depends on whether the plant is normally insect-pollinated or wind-pollinated.

Question 6

The owner of a plant nursery is introducing the new night janitor to his duties."Behind this door are the poinsettias," she said, "Please don't clean this room, and leave the door closed." Why might the owner say this?

Accepted Answer

A) Poinsettias are short-day plants that require a long uninterrupted period of darkness to flower.Even a short flash of light at night could prevent flowering. 
B) Poinsettias are very sensitive to the chemicals used in cleaning, which can interfere with the gibberellin-dependent pathway and disrupt flowering. 
C) Poinsettias are tropical plants and require constant warm temperatures for flower formation. 
D) Poinsettias are long-day plants that require a long period of light for flower formation, and this light might disrupt the day-night cycles of other plants outside the room. 
A) Poinsettias are short-day plants that require a long uninterrupted period of darkness to flower.Even a short flash of light at night could prevent flowering. 
B) Poinsettias are very sensitive to the chemicals used in cleaning, which can interfere with the gibberellin-dependent pathway and disrupt flowering. 
C) Poinsettias are tropical plants and require constant warm temperatures for flower formation. 
D) Poinsettias are long-day plants that require a long period of light for flower formation, and this light might disrupt the day-night cycles of other plants outside the room.

Question 7

When a seed germinates, the embryo emerges from its dormancy and begins which phase of the plant life cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) sporophyte generation 
B) gametophyte generation 
C) dicot generation 
D) monocot generation 
A) sporophyte generation 
B) gametophyte generation 
C) dicot generation 
D) monocot generation

Question 8

What are the "seed leaves" that grow from bulges on the embryo called?

Accepted Answer

A) radicles 
B) embryo sacs 
C) petioles 
D) cotyledons 
A) radicles 
B) embryo sacs 
C) petioles 
D) cotyledons

Question 9

Scientists have confirmed by carbon dating that seeds dormant for up to 2000 years can successfully germinate.Based on the requirements for germination, what research expedition should you join in order to retrieve some ancient but viable seeds?

Accepted Answer

A) A trip to Indonesia, where the civet cat eats and expels coffee beans, producing a gourmet coffee known as Kopi Luwak. 
B) A trip to the Irish marsh, where wet peat creates anaerobic conditions, and your colleagues hope to unearth a bog mummy. 
C) A trip to the Burgess Shale in Canada, where your paleontologist colleagues have found fossils from the Cambrian era. 
D) A trip to the arid Dead Sea region, where your historian colleagues have found a storeroom of wax-sealed jars. 
A) A trip to Indonesia, where the civet cat eats and expels coffee beans, producing a gourmet coffee known as Kopi Luwak. 
B) A trip to the Irish marsh, where wet peat creates anaerobic conditions, and your colleagues hope to unearth a bog mummy. 
C) A trip to the Burgess Shale in Canada, where your paleontologist colleagues have found fossils from the Cambrian era. 
D) A trip to the arid Dead Sea region, where your historian colleagues have found a storeroom of wax-sealed jars.

Question 10

Despite its name, Kentucky Bluegrass is a widespread turfgrass used for lawns throughout the United States.In some regions, strains have developed desirable disease-resistant properties.However, Kentucky Bluegrass typically develops by apomixis.Plant breeders say this creates both a challenge and an opportunity for engineering novel strains.Why?

Accepted Answer

A) In apomixis, new plants develop from underground horizontal stems.This allows for fast propagation of new strains, but all progeny are identical to the parent. 
B) Plants that develop by apomixis are naturally tolerant of herbicides.As a result, herbicide tolerance genes cannot be used as selectable markers for a transgene, but herbicides can be used to keep the resulting culture pure. 
C) Since the progeny of apomixis are triploid, hybrids have an imbalance of parental genes.However, this may be desirable if a higher proportion of one allele is beneficial. 
D) If a seed develops by apomixis, it will be identical to its parent.Hybridization with another strain requires special techniques.However, once a hybrid strain is developed, apomixis ensures its reliable propagation. 
A) In apomixis, new plants develop from underground horizontal stems.This allows for fast propagation of new strains, but all progeny are identical to the parent. 
B) Plants that develop by apomixis are naturally tolerant of herbicides.As a result, herbicide tolerance genes cannot be used as selectable markers for a transgene, but herbicides can be used to keep the resulting culture pure. 
C) Since the progeny of apomixis are triploid, hybrids have an imbalance of parental genes.However, this may be desirable if a higher proportion of one allele is beneficial. 
D) If a seed develops by apomixis, it will be identical to its parent.Hybridization with another strain requires special techniques.However, once a hybrid strain is developed, apomixis ensures its reliable propagation.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a floral structure?

Accepted Answer

A) endosperm 
B) calyx 
C) corolla 
D) stigma 
A) endosperm 
B) calyx 
C) corolla 
D) stigma

Question 12

You buy a Schlumbergera plant, also known as a Christmas Cactus, to decorate the desk where you study late into the night.It is now December, and there are no signs of flower buds forming.What is the most plausible explanation for the lack of flowers?

Accepted Answer

A) Flowering in this plant is controlled by both day length and temperature.The warm room and extended exposure to light are preventing flower formation. 
B) The room is too cold for a cactus plant, which requires hot, desert conditions to flower. 
C) Cacti are gymnosperms, not angiosperms, and thus do not form flowers. 
D) As a long-day plant, the cactus requires a high light to dark ratio to flower, so it must be exposed to more sunlight. 
A) Flowering in this plant is controlled by both day length and temperature.The warm room and extended exposure to light are preventing flower formation. 
B) The room is too cold for a cactus plant, which requires hot, desert conditions to flower. 
C) Cacti are gymnosperms, not angiosperms, and thus do not form flowers. 
D) As a long-day plant, the cactus requires a high light to dark ratio to flower, so it must be exposed to more sunlight.

Question 13

If a pollen grain fails to generate two sperm cells, what is the most likely result of pollination?

Accepted Answer

A) Half the seeds would develop fine, but the other half would die. 
B) The resulting progeny would be haploid. 
C) The seeds would lack either embryos or endosperm, and so would be nonviable. 
D) The endosperm would be smaller. 
A) Half the seeds would develop fine, but the other half would die. 
B) The resulting progeny would be haploid. 
C) The seeds would lack either embryos or endosperm, and so would be nonviable. 
D) The endosperm would be smaller.

Question 14

What do the two daughter cells generated by the first asymmetric division of the plant zygote become?

Accepted Answer

A) the suspensor and the embryo 
B) the epicotyl and the hypocotyl 
C) the root and the shoot 
D) the egg and pollen 
A) the suspensor and the embryo 
B) the epicotyl and the hypocotyl 
C) the root and the shoot 
D) the egg and pollen

Question 15

Oaks, birches and corn produce both staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant.What term describes this type of plant?

Accepted Answer

A) monoecious 
B) dioecious 
C) hermaphroditic 
D) complete 
A) monoecious 
B) dioecious 
C) hermaphroditic 
D) complete

Question 16

Why do oils form a significant part of the nutritional reserves in many seeds?

Accepted Answer

A) Oils help keep the embryo hydrated, allowing the seed to survive in dry habitats. 
B) The oils reduce the density of the seed and allow for water dispersal. 
C) Oils contain more mineral nutrients than carbohydrates. 
D) Oils store twice as much energy as an equivalent mass of starch. 
A) Oils help keep the embryo hydrated, allowing the seed to survive in dry habitats. 
B) The oils reduce the density of the seed and allow for water dispersal. 
C) Oils contain more mineral nutrients than carbohydrates. 
D) Oils store twice as much energy as an equivalent mass of starch.

Question 17

Which of these characteristics would most likely discourage self-pollination in a flower with both stamens and pistils?

Accepted Answer

A) many more stamens than pistils 
B) long pistils and short stamens 
C) long stamens and short pistils 
D) wind pollination 
A) many more stamens than pistils 
B) long pistils and short stamens 
C) long stamens and short pistils 
D) wind pollination

Question 18

Which of the following statements about flowering plants is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A) A short-day plant requires nights longer than a certain critical period to trigger flowering. 
B) A long-day plant requires nights shorter than a certain critical period to inhibit flowering. 
C) A short-day plant requires daylight of short wavelengths. 
D) A long-day plant requires long wavelengths during the night. 
A) A short-day plant requires nights longer than a certain critical period to trigger flowering. 
B) A long-day plant requires nights shorter than a certain critical period to inhibit flowering. 
C) A short-day plant requires daylight of short wavelengths. 
D) A long-day plant requires long wavelengths during the night.

Question 19

What is the name of the elongated structure that links the embryo to the nutrient tissue of the seed?

Accepted Answer

A) suspensor 
B) cotyledon 
C) epicotyl 
D) style 
A) suspensor 
B) cotyledon 
C) epicotyl 
D) style

Question 20

Some species of orchids attract pollinating Hymenoptera (bees and wasps) with flowers that closely mimic the appearance of a female insect.As the male attempts to mate with the flower, he becomes loaded with pollen, helping the plant to reproduce.If one of these orchid plants acquired a loss-of-function mutation in a CYCLOIDEA-like gene, what do you predict might happen?

Accepted Answer

A) The mutation would quickly spread through the population. 
B) The mutant plants would have fewer available resources to devote to nectar production. 
C) The mutant plants would attract larger numbers of pollinating male insects. 
D) The mutation would fail to spread in the population. 
A) The mutation would quickly spread through the population. 
B) The mutant plants would have fewer available resources to devote to nectar production. 
C) The mutant plants would attract larger numbers of pollinating male insects. 
D) The mutation would fail to spread in the population.

Exam 41: Plant Reproduction

In a wind-pollinated species, which of these floral parts is likely to be inconspicuous or absent?

You go to the movies with a friend, and he refuses to share your popcorn.He says that he heard that movie theatre popcorn is triploid.What is the most likely explanation for this?

Endosperm tissue of angiosperms has what ploidy level?

A seed that lands in the forest soil is homozygous mutant for the CONSTANS (CO) gene, and as a result does not produce any functional CONSTANS protein.What do you predict will happen during the development of this seed?

The owner of a plant nursery is introducing the new night janitor to his duties."Behind this door are the poinsettias," she said, "Please don't clean this room, and leave the door closed." Why might the owner say this?

When a seed germinates, the embryo emerges from its dormancy and begins which phase of the plant life cycle?

What are the "seed leaves" that grow from bulges on the embryo called?

Scientists have confirmed by carbon dating that seeds dormant for up to 2000 years can successfully germinate.Based on the requirements for germination, what research expedition should you join in order to retrieve some ancient but viable seeds?

Which of the following is NOT a floral structure?

You buy a Schlumbergera plant, also known as a Christmas Cactus, to decorate the desk where you study late into the night.It is now December, and there are no signs of flower buds forming.What is the most plausible explanation for the lack of flowers?

If a pollen grain fails to generate two sperm cells, what is the most likely result of pollination?

What do the two daughter cells generated by the first asymmetric division of the plant zygote become?

Oaks, birches and corn produce both staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant.What term describes this type of plant?

Why do oils form a significant part of the nutritional reserves in many seeds?

Which of these characteristics would most likely discourage self-pollination in a flower with both stamens and pistils?

Which of the following statements about flowering plants is TRUE?

What is the name of the elongated structure that links the embryo to the nutrient tissue of the seed?

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