Given below are two statements : One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reaso

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Question

Given below are two statements : One is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : Both wind and water pollinated flowers are not very colourful and do not produce nectar.
Reason (R) : The flowers produce enormous amount of pollen grains in wind and water pollinated flowers.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
(1) A is false but R is true
(2) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(3) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
(4) A is true but R is false

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C — Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of AStep-by-step Solution:Assertion A — TRUE: Anemophilous (wind-pollinated) and hydrophilous (water-pollinated) flowers indeed lack bright colors and do not produce nectar. This is because these flowers do not need to attract animal pollinators. Color, fragrance, and nectar are adaptations that attract bees, butterflies, birds, and other animal pollinators. Since wind and water pollen dispersal occurs by passive physical means (not requiring animal attraction), these flowers have evolved to lack these energy-costly features. Examples of anemophilous flowers: grasses (Poaceae), wheat, maize, rice, poplar, pine — all have small, inconspicuous flowers without petals or nectar. Examples of hydrophilous flowers: Vallisneria, Ceratophyllum — small, reduced flowers.Reason R — TRUE: Wind and water-pollinated plants do indeed produce enormous quantities of pollen. This is a compensatory adaptation for the random, wasteful nature of wind/water dispersal — only a tiny fraction of pollen grains ever reach the stigma of the appropriate flower. To increase the probability of successful pollination, these plants produce millions of lightweight pollen grains. Anemophilous pollen grains are typically: small, light, smooth, non-sticky (not covered in pollenkitt), and often produced in astronomical quantities (e.g., a single pine tree produces millions of pollen per year).Why R is NOT the explanation of A: The lack of bright color and nectar in anemophilous/hydrophilous flowers is explained by the absence of need to attract animal pollinators — not by the production of large amounts of pollen. The large pollen production is a separate adaptation for a different purpose (compensating for pollen wastage). These are two independent adaptive strategies for the same mode of pollination. The Reason, while true, does not causally explain the Assertion. It is a correlation, not causation.Extended Explanation:Adaptations for different pollination modes: Anemophily (wind): Small, colorless, odorless flowers; no nectar; large pollen production; light, smooth, often winged pollen; feathery, sticky stigmas; flowers often high up, exposed to wind. Hydrophily (water): Pollen is often covered in mucilage (waterproof coat); may be thread-like or disk-shaped for floating; occurs at or below water surface; rare in angiosperms (most aquatic plants are actually insect-pollinated above water). Entomophily (insects): Colorful petals, nectar, fragrance; sticky/spiny pollen; specific flower shapes adapted to pollinator body. Ornithophily (birds): Large, red/orange flowers; copious nectar; no fragrance (birds have poor smell). Chiropterophily (bats): Dull colors; nocturnal; strong musty fragrance; large amounts of pollen/nectar.Key Concepts: Pollination syndromes, anemophily (wind), hydrophily (water), floral adaptations, absence of color/nectar, large pollen production, A and R relationship (true but R not explaining A).

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