Given below are two statements :
Statement I :
Cleistogamous flowers are invariably autogamous
Statement II :
Cleistogamy is disadvantageous as there is no chance for cross pollination
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- A
Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
- B
Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
- C
Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
- D
Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Cleistogamous flowers remain closed throughout development. Since pollen cannot escape the flower nor reach an outside stigma, fertilisation is necessarily by self-pollen, that is, autogamy. So Statement I is correct.
Because pollinators are excluded and cross pollination is impossible, cleistogamous plants forfeit the genetic mixing that cross pollination provides. This is a clear genetic disadvantage. Statement II is also correct.
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