CLEP Biology Plant Reproduction and Structure 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following describes a self-incompatibility mechanism in flowering plants?
- A genetic system that prevents fertilization by pollen from the same plant (Correct answer)
- The inability of a flower to produce viable pollen
- A physical barrier preventing insect pollination
- The loss of petals before pollen is released
Correct answer: A genetic system that prevents fertilization by pollen from the same plant
Self-incompatibility is a genetically controlled mechanism that prevents self-fertilization, promoting outbreeding and genetic diversity.
Question 2: The ripened ovary wall in a fruit is called the:
- Pericarp (Correct answer)
- Endocarp
- Mesocarp
- Epicarp
Correct answer: Pericarp
The pericarp is the entire ripened ovary wall, which may be differentiated into epicarp (skin), mesocarp (flesh), and endocarp (pit).
Question 3: A tomato is botanically classified as which type of fruit?
- Berry (Correct answer)
- Drupe
- Pome
- Achene
Correct answer: Berry
Botanically, a tomato is a berry because it is a fleshy fruit with a soft pericarp and multiple seeds derived from a single ovary.
Question 4: Which plant structure is responsible for vegetative reproduction in strawberries?
- Stolons (runners) (Correct answer)
- Rhizomes
- Bulbs
- Corms
Correct answer: Stolons (runners)
Strawberries reproduce vegetatively via stolons (runners), which are horizontal stems that touch the ground and produce new plants at nodes.
Question 5: Apomixis in plants refers to:
- Seed production without fertilization (Correct answer)
- Vegetative reproduction via stolons
- Pollen transfer between flowers
- Germination in the absence of water
Correct answer: Seed production without fertilization
Apomixis is the production of seeds without fertilization, resulting in offspring genetically identical to the mother plant.
Question 6: In a typical angiosperm flower, the receptacle is:
- The enlarged tip of the peduncle that bears the floral parts (Correct answer)
- The stalk connecting the flower to the main stem
- The base of the pistil
- The outer whorl of sterile floral leaves
Correct answer: The enlarged tip of the peduncle that bears the floral parts
The receptacle is the thickened, expanded tip of the flower stalk (peduncle) to which sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels are attached.
Question 7: What is the primary role of ethylene gas in fruit development?
- Stimulates fruit ripening and softening (Correct answer)
- Promotes cell division in the ovary
- Triggers pollination responses
- Initiates seed dormancy
Correct answer: Stimulates fruit ripening and softening
Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that promotes fruit ripening by stimulating the breakdown of cell walls, conversion of starches to sugars, and color changes.
CLEP Biology Plant Reproduction and Structure 4
Which of the following describes a self-incompatibility mechanism in flowering plants?