Question 1

The stems of all plants-whether they reproduce asexually or sexually-are vertical; there is no such thing as a horizontal stem.

Accepted Answer

There are some plants, such as strawberries and some ferns, that have horizontal stems called stolons or runners, which grow along the surface of the soil and produce new plantlets.

Question 2

Because vegetative reproduction is a form of sexual reproduction in plants, it can result in offspring that are genetically distinct from parent plants (via genetic recombination); however, genetic recombination in plants is a rare occurrence.

Accepted Answer

Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants, which means that it does not involve genetic recombination and results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant. Sexual reproduction, on the other hand, involves genetic recombination and can result in offspring that are genetically distinct from their parents.

Question 3

A strawberry farmer's crop has been devastated by a fungal infection. The farmer searches for any fungi-resistant strawberry plants in his fields, but finds none. Why?

Accepted Answer

Strawberry plants often reproduce through vegetative reproduction, which means they produce clones of themselves. This results in a population of plants that are genetically identical or very similar, reducing genetic diversity. Without genetic diversity, it's unlikely that any of the plants would naturally possess resistance to the fungal infection.

Question 4

Imagine that you find a new type of plant with a rather interesting method of reproduction. This plant produces horizontal stems, but instead of these stems giving rise to new individuals, they function in seed dispersal. What can you say about this plant?

Accepted Answer

The fact that this plant produces seeds suggests sexual reproduction. The horizontal stems function in seed dispersal, but do not necessarily determine the type of reproduction that the plant undergoes.

Question 5

A single species of flowering plant covers most of a recently formed volcanic island that is many miles from any other land form. Tests show that the individual plants all appear to be genetically uniform. The MOST likely hypothesis is that the plant is reproducing by:

Accepted Answer

Apomixis is a form of asexual reproduction that allows a plant to produce seeds without fertilization, leading to offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. This mechanism would explain the genetic uniformity observed in the plant population on the volcanic island.

Question 6

Asexual reproduction in plants results in:

Accepted Answer

Asexual reproduction in plants involves only one parent, which means that the offspring are genetically identical to the parent. There is no genetic variation or diversity involved in this process.

Question 7

The hormone that enhances fruit ripening is:

Accepted Answer

Ethylene is the hormone that enhances fruit ripening. It is a gaseous hormone and is produced by fruits themselves as they ripen.

Question 8

What is one of the ways plants overcome dispersal issues associated with vegetative reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal stems (such as runners and stolons) grow away from the parent plant, allowing new shoots to form at a distance from the parent. This enables the plant to colonize new areas and overcome dispersal issues associated with vegetative reproduction.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding vegetative reproduction?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements is TRUE...

Question 10

Double fertilization in angiosperms results in a:

Accepted Answer

Double fertilization in angiosperms involves the fusion of one sperm cell with the egg cell to form a diploid zygote that develops into the embryo, and the fusion of another sperm cell with two polar nuclei to form a triploid endosperm that provides nutrients for the developing embryo. Therefore, the correct result of double fertilization in angiosperms is a diploid embryo and a triploid endosperm.

Question 11

A minority of present-day angiosperms are wind pollinated.

Accepted Answer

While wind pollination was likely more common in the early evolution of angiosperms, most modern angiosperms have evolved to be pollinated by animals, including insects, birds, and bats.

Question 12

Why might asexual reproduction typically result in local colonization, while the products of sexual reproduction are typically dispersed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why might asexual reproduction typically result in...

Question 13

Your lab group collects genetic samples from half of the stems in a forest, but is unable to detect any sequence differences across dozens of genes. This observation supports the conclusion that:

Accepted Answer

The observation that there are no sequence differences across dozens of genes in the sampled stems suggests that the sampled species is capable of asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction involves the production of offspring from a single parent, without the involvement of meiosis and fertilization. This process results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent, which explains the lack of sequence differences observed in the sampled stems.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding plants that reproduce asexually?

Accepted Answer

Many asexually reproducing plants produce horizontal stems, allowing new plants to grow at a distance from founder or parent plants. This is true for many plant species, such as strawberries and spider plants. Option A is incorrect as not all asexually reproducing plants rely on water for dispersal. Option C is incorrect as vegetative reproduction is actually common in many plant species. Option D is incorrect as woody plants can also reproduce asexually.

Question 15

Which of the following statements regarding nutritive material and embryo in seeds is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

In gymnosperms, the nutritive material for the embryo is the female gametophyte tissue, which the embryo consumes as it develops. This is a key characteristic distinguishing gymnosperms from angiosperms, where the nutritive material is endosperm, a tissue formed after fertilization.

Question 16

Which of the following plants is/are known to reproduce through vegetative reproduction?

Accepted Answer

All of these plants are known to reproduce through vegetative reproduction. Aspen species can produce new trees from their root system, bamboo can spread through underground rhizomes, grasses can produce new shoots from their roots or stems, and spider plants can produce new plantlets from their stems.

Question 17

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding redwood trees?

Accepted Answer

Redwoods can reproduce through vegetative reproduction, with new shoots emerging from fallen horizontal trees. This allows redwood trees to form vast clonal colonies consisting of genetically identical individuals.

Question 18

Vegetative, asexual reproduction is not possible in woody plants, such as trees, due to their more complex growth patterns.

Accepted Answer

Vegetative, asexual reproduction is possible in woody plants through various means such as layering, cuttings, and grafting. While their growth patterns may be more complex than herbaceous plants, woody plants can still reproduce asexually.

Question 19

When dandelions produce seeds by apomixis, which of the following is/are not involved?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When dandelions produce seeds by apomixis, which...

Question 20

Unlike large multicellular animals, large multicellular plants can reproduce vegetatively due to the fact that:

Accepted Answer

Large multicellular plants have the ability to reproduce vegetatively because their growth and development occur continually throughout their life, allowing them to produce new roots, stems, and leaves. In contrast, large multicellular animals have a more fixed body plan and cannot reproduce vegetatively.

Quiz 30: Plant Reproduction: Finding Mates and Dispersing Young