Question: 136 Given below are two statements : One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R :
Assertion A : In gymnosperms the pollen grains are released from the microsporangium and carried by air currents.
Reason R : Air currents carry the pollen grains to the mouth of the archegonia where the male gametes are discharged and pollen tube is not formed.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
(1) \mathbf{A} is true but \mathbf{R} is false.
(2) \mathbf{A} is false but \mathbf{R} is true.
(3) Both \mathbf{A} and \mathbf{R} are true and \mathbf{R} is the correct explanation of \mathbf{A}.
(4) Both \mathbf{A} and \mathbf{R} are true but \mathbf{R} is NOT the correct explanation of \mathbf{A}.
Answer: Option (1)
Explanation:
In gymnosperms, pollen grains are produced in microsporangia and are released into the air.
These pollen grains are carried by air currents to the ovules, indicating wind pollination.
Therefore, Assertion A is true.
However, in gymnosperms, pollen grains germinate on the ovule and form a pollen tube which carries the male gametes to the archegonia.
Male gametes are not directly discharged at the mouth of the archegonia without pollen tube formation.
Thus, Reason R is false.
Hence, the correct answer is Option (1).