Which of the following is NOT an agent of pollination in flowering plants?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Fungi
Flowering plants use external agents to carry pollen from the anther to the stigma. NCERT lists two abiotic agents, wind and water, and one biotic agent, animals. Among animals, insects (particularly bees) are the main pollinators, along with birds, bats and a few others.
Option (1) Wind — Incorrect. Wind is the more common of the two abiotic agents. Wind-pollinated flowers have light, non-sticky pollen and large, often feathery stigmas.
Option (2) Water — Incorrect. Water is the other abiotic agent. It is rare and limited to about 30 genera, mostly monocotyledons, such as Vallisneria, Hydrilla and Zostera.
Option (3) Insects — Incorrect. Insects are animals, the biotic agent. Bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants and moths are common insect pollinators.
Option (4) Fungi — Correct. Fungi are not among the agents of pollination. The agents are wind, water and animals only.
NCERT Extract:
Pollination – “… Agents of Pollination : Plants use two abiotic (wind and water) and one biotic (animals) agents to achieve pollination. Majority of plants use biotic agents for pollination. Only a small proportion of plants use abiotic agents.”
Pollination – “… Majority of flowering plants use a range of animals as pollinating agents. Bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, wasps, ants, moths, birds (sunbirds and humming birds) and bats are the common pollinating agents.”