📘 Questions:
Q1. Why is Parthenium hysterophorus considered a major allergenic plant in India?
A. Because it causes photosynthetic inhibition in local crops.
B. Due to its nectar, which attracts harmful insects.
C. Because its pollen triggers severe allergic reactions like asthma and bronchitis.
D. Due to its alkaloid-rich roots that infect groundwater.
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Q2. How did Parthenium become widespread in India?
A. It was genetically engineered for drought resistance.
B. It was used for soil conservation and spread through wind.
C. It came with imported wheat and became invasive.
D. It was introduced for ornamental horticulture and spread via pollinators.
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Q3. Why is the spread of Parthenium considered dangerous for public health?
A. Its leaves contain chloroplast toxins.
B. It causes chronic respiratory issues via airborne pollen.
C. It releases seed toxins into drinking water.
D. Its stem is a carrier of fungal infections.
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Q4. Why are pollen tablets used as food supplements?
A. Because pollen contains enzymes for digesting starch and fats.
B. Because they are high in nutrients and claimed to improve stamina.
C. Because they help regulate sleep and circadian rhythm.
D. Because they contain antibiotics naturally found in plant gametes.
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Q5. What claim is associated with pollen consumption in the fitness world?
A. That it reduces cholesterol levels in bodybuilders.
B. That it prevents dehydration during sports events.
C. That it enhances athletic and racing performance.
D. That it boosts memory and attention span under stress.
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Q6. Why are pollen-based products more common in western countries?
A. Due to the cold climates preserving their freshness.
B. Because people there are immune to pollen allergies.
C. Because of commercial demand for natural supplements.
D. Because pollen is subsidized by agricultural policies.
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Q7. What is meant by pollen grain viability?
A. The ability to germinate on the stigma within a given time after release.
B. The capacity to reproduce even without fertilization.
C. The number of chromosomes a pollen grain can carry.
D. The resistance of pollen to microbial degradation in soil.
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Q8. What happens to pollen grains if they fail to reach the stigma within viability?
A. They decompose and enrich the soil.
B. They remain dormant until the next season.
C. They become non-functional and cannot fertilize.
D. They divide mitotically to form vegetative tissues.
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Q9. What factor largely determines the duration of pollen viability?
A. Intensity of sunlight during anthesis.
B. Humidity and temperature conditions.
C. Mineral content in the pollen wall.
D. Distance between anther and stigma.
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Q10. In which of the following plants is pollen viability extremely short?
A. Mustard and pea
B. Coconut and date palm
C. Rice and wheat
D. Tomato and potato
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Q11. What is common among pollen grains of Solanaceae, Rosaceae, and Leguminosae?
A. They lack exine walls and hence are fragile.
B. Their pollen remains viable for several months.
C. They require insects for pollen hydration.
D. Their pollen is wind-dispersed for rapid spread.
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Q12. How long can rice and wheat pollen typically survive after release?
A. Several weeks under dry conditions
B. About 2–3 hours at most
C. Within 30 minutes of being shed
D. Until fertilisation is complete
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Q13. What technique is used to store pollen grains for years?
A. Sealing in sugar solution at 0°C
B. Preservation in ethanol for dehydration
C. Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at -196°C
D. Storing at 37°C with calcium nitrate
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Q14. What is the function of pollen banks?
A. To store seeds for drought conditions.
B. To conserve biodiversity of threatened species.
C. To preserve viable pollen for crop breeding programs.
D. To archive floral scents for botanical studies.
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Q15. Which modern technology is similar in principle to pollen preservation?
A. IVF and artificial insemination using frozen sperm
B. DNA fingerprinting in forensic labs
C. Vaccine preservation through lyophilization
D. Stem cell banking for cancer therapy
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Q16. What could be the outcome if pollen grains land on the stigma after their viability ends?
A. Fertilisation occurs but embryo aborts.
B. Fruit develops without seeds.
C. Fertilisation fails to occur.
D. They trigger allergic reactions in the ovary.
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Q17. Which of the following best describes the purpose of cryogenic pollen storage?
A. To facilitate large-scale seed germination
B. To assist in cross-pollination between wild species
C. To allow long-term storage for artificial hybridisation
D. To prevent pollen degradation in composting
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Q18. What component makes pollen grains tough and durable in nature?
A. Cellulose fibers
B. Exine wall made of sporopollenin
C. Phospholipid-rich endosperm
D. Protein-rich nucellus layer
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Q19. What causes pollen allergy in most individuals?
A. The size of pollen grain which blocks airways
B. The moisture content of air carrying the grains
C. The protein content in pollen that acts as allergens
D. The acidic secretion from the anther
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Q20. Which organ system is most affected by pollen allergies?
A. Excretory system
B. Circulatory system
C. Respiratory system
D. Digestive system
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Q21. Why is it important to conduct controlled pollination in rice and wheat?
A. Because their pollen is highly allergenic to insects
B. Because their pollen becomes non-viable quickly
C. Because their stigma rejects all foreign pollen
D. Because they reproduce asexually by default
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Q22. How is pollen viability related to successful fertilisation?
A. Viability ensures fertilisation only in self-pollination.
B. Without viability, pollen cannot germinate on the stigma.
C. Viable pollen delays the formation of endosperm.
D. It is irrelevant in apomictic plant varieties.
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Q23. In which method is pollen used years after collection?
A. Vegetative propagation
B. Artificial pollination after cryopreservation
C. Germ tube testing in vivo
D. Seasonal autogamy
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Q24. Which feature makes cryopreserved pollen useful in crop improvement?
A. Its ability to photosynthesize independently
B. Its use in producing genetically identical seeds
C. Its long-term viability for hybridisation programs
D. Its resistance to bacterial infection in soil
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Q25. Which is the correct order of viability from shortest to longest?
A. Wheat < Tomato < Rose
B. Rice < Maize < Sunflower
C. Wheat < Rose < Leguminosae
D. Rice < Leguminosae < Solanaceae
Q26. What benefit do athletes claim from consuming pollen-based supplements?
A. Improved skin elasticity and fat reduction
B. Boosted respiratory performance and physical endurance
C. Elimination of joint pain and calcium deficiency
D. Acceleration of reflex actions and muscle repair
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Q27. In which form are pollen products usually sold in the Western market?
A. Injectables and lozenges
B. Eye drops and nasal sprays
C. Tablets and syrups
D. Capsules and caffeinated drinks
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Q28. What is the relevance of the -196°C temperature in pollen research?
A. It’s used for drying pollen before hybridisation
B. It preserves pollen structure for microscopy
C. It is the temperature of liquid nitrogen used to store pollen grains
D. It activates pollen germination in experimental studies
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Q29. Why is pollen grain viability considered crop-specific?
A. Because different crops grow in different soil types
B. Because each species has a genetically defined viability period
C. Due to differences in xylem and phloem composition
D. Because some crops reproduce vegetatively
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Q30. Why is temperature control essential during pollen grain storage?
A. To prevent shrinkage of microspores
B. To reduce pigmentation changes in the pollen wall
C. To maintain viability by slowing metabolic activity
D. To avoid oxidation of DNA inside the grains
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Q31. Why does wheat require immediate pollination after anthesis?
A. Because it has an extremely short pollen viability of about 30 minutes
B. Because it’s pollinated by bees that fly only during midday
C. Because its stigma closes quickly after opening
D. Because it can’t tolerate heat beyond 20°C
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Q32. What happens to stored pollen if not kept at cryogenic temperature?
A. It undergoes plasmolysis and burst
B. It turns into a diploid spore and germinates
C. It loses viability and can’t germinate later
D. It becomes allergenic and toxic when rehydrated
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Q33. Which statement is most accurate regarding artificial hybridisation?
A. It requires viable pollen which is often stored for off-season breeding
B. It involves drying pollen under sunlight for easier dispersal
C. It depends only on natural pollination vectors
D. It does not require storage if stigma is highly receptive
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Q34. What role does humidity play in pollen viability?
A. It determines the lipid content in the pollen grain
B. It causes pollen to develop thick walls
C. It influences water retention and germination ability
D. It helps bind the pollen to insect vectors
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Q35. Which technique is used for identifying viable pollen?
A. Iodine staining of starch
B. Tetrazolium reduction test
C. Acid-fast staining
D. PCR for DNA fingerprinting
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Q36. In seed banks, the concept of viability is similar to pollen banks because:
A. Both store only male gametes
B. Both preserve reproductive material under ideal conditions for future use
C. Both require germination immediately after storage
D. Both rely on dehydration as the primary method
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Q37. What physiological event is most dependent on pollen viability?
A. Root formation in seedling
B. Pollen tube formation after stigma contact
C. Leaf expansion during vegetative growth
D. Cambial activity in woody plants
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Q38. Why can pollen grains of Rosaceae survive for months?
A. Because of their larger size and thicker cytoplasm
B. Due to high metabolic rate during dispersal
C. Due to adaptation to cold temperate climates
D. Because they have protective exine and resistant nuclei
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Q39. What makes pollen allergy unpredictable?
A. It varies based on age of the pollen donor plant
B. Each individual’s immune system reacts differently to pollen proteins
C. It’s only seasonal and occurs in summer
D. It is caused by spores, not pollen
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Q40. What is a major challenge in using pollen as a dietary supplement?
A. Low bioavailability of nutrients in human gut
B. Risk of inhalation leading to respiratory distress
C. Its inability to be digested in stomach acid
D. Requirement of enzymatic breakdown before use
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Q41. Why are legumes mentioned in relation to pollen viability?
A. Because they release pollen only during night
B. Because they produce both pollen and ovules in one structure
C. Because they have long-lasting viable pollen suitable for breeding
D. Because their pollen is sterile under high UV light
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Q42. What makes the exine layer of pollen important?
A. It contains pigments that attract pollinators
B. It helps in nutrient absorption
C. It provides protection and helps retain viability
D. It dissolves easily to release nuclei
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Q43. Why is fertilisation timing critical in cereals?
A. Because cereals produce very few ovules
B. Because the stigma degenerates rapidly
C. Because pollen viability is extremely short (30 minutes in rice and wheat)
D. Because the anther bursts only once per season
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Q44. Which group includes species with long-lasting pollen?
A. Rosaceae, Solanaceae, Leguminosae
B. Gramineae, Cruciferae, Myrtaceae
C. Malvaceae, Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae
D. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae
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Q45. Why is artificial pollination necessary in some plant breeding programs?
A. Natural pollination causes mutations in hybrid seeds
B. Stored pollen is more nutritious and increases yield
C. Short viability of pollen necessitates timed pollination
D. Stigma does not open unless stimulated by humans
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Q46. Which part of the plant produces pollen grains?
A. Ovary wall
B. Stigma
C. Anther of stamen
D. Style
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Q47. What allows pollen grains to survive freezing temperatures?
A. Protective proteins in the cytoplasm
B. Absence of chlorophyll and xylem vessels
C. Hardened exine and desiccated cytoplasm
D. Nucleus that replicates even in cold
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Q48. What would most likely improve pollen shelf life in storage?
A. Increasing oxygen level
B. Decreasing light intensity
C. Lowering temperature to cryogenic range
D. Keeping them in moist chambers
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Q49. Why do breeders sometimes prefer storing pollen over seeds?
A. Because pollen can form seeds on its own
B. Because it’s easier to sterilize pollen
C. Because pollen allows for controlled hybridisation
D. Because seeds cannot be frozen like pollen
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Q50. How does the use of pollen banks accelerate plant breeding?
A. They allow faster conversion of seeds to fruits
B. They remove the need for pollinators completely
C. They enable off-season cross-breeding using stored viable pollen
D. They eliminate the need for fertilizers
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✅ Answer Key (Q1–Q50)
1. C 2. C 3. B 4. B 5. C 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. B 10. C. 11 B 12. C 13. C 14. C 15. A 16. C 17. C 18. B 19. C 20. C 21. B 22. B 23. B 24. C 25. C 26. B 27. C 28. C 29. B 30. C 31 A 32. C 33. A 34. C 35. B 36. B 37. B 38. D 39. B 40. B 41 C 42. C 43. C 44. A 45. C 46. C 47. C 48. C 49. C 50. C
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