Recent research has shown that pollination requires that carpels recognize pollen grains as "self or nonself." For self-incompatibility, the system requires
A) the rejection of nonself cells.
B) the rejection of self cells.
C) carpel incompatibility with the egg cells.
D) that the flowers be incomplete.
E) the union of genetically identical sperm and egg cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Self-incompatibility means that the carpels reject pollen grains from the same plant, i.e., self-cells, to avoid inbreeding. Therefore, the system requires the rejection of self-cells for successful pollination to take place. Option A is incorrect because the system rejects nonself cells (those from different plants) instead of accepting them. Option C is incorrect because carpel incompatibility with egg cells would hinder successful fertilization instead of promoting it. Option D is incorrect because incomplete flowers lack one or more floral organs, such as stamens or carpels, and not all flowers with self-incompatibility traits are incomplete. Option E is irrelevant to the self-incompatibility system.

Recent Research Has Shown That Pollination Requires That Carpels Recognize