Question

Which of the following is characterized by non functional pollen grains, while female gametes function normally?

• A. Self-incompatibility
• B. Male sterility
• C. Pure line
• D. Pedigree

Hint:

Male Sterility: Plant has working female parts (ovules) but non-working male parts (pollen is absent, malformed, or non-viable). Can receive pollen, cannot donate.
Self-Incompatibility: Plant has working pollen AND working ovules, but its own pollen cannot fertilize its own ovules due to a genetic block. The question describes male sterility.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Let's analyze the given terms:
(1) Self-incompatibility: A genetic mechanism where viable, functional pollen from a plant is unable to fertilize the ovules of the same plant (or plants with identical S-alleles). Both male and female gametes are functional, but their fusion is prevented due to genetic recognition.
(2) Male sterility: A condition in which a plant produces non-functional pollen grains, or no pollen at all, while its female gametes (ovules) are fertile and function normally. This means the plant can be pollinated by functional pollen from another plant (acting as a female parent) but cannot act as a male parent. This fits the description perfectly.
(3) Pure line: A population of plants that is homozygous for most traits and breeds true upon self-pollination. It relates to genetic uniformity, not pollen functionality per se.
(4) Pedigree: A record of the ancestry or lineage of an individual or variety. The characteristic "non functional pollen grains, while female gametes function normally" is the definition of male sterility. Male sterility