Before You Begin
Question #47537
The Question
In a population of a moss (e.g., Funaria), severe environmental stress causes a sharp decline in the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of the haploid plant body. Which of the following represents the most direct and critical consequence of this physiological shift on its life cycle?
Options
- A.
Zygotic meiosis is prematurely triggered within the archegonium to rapidly disperse haploid spores before the host plant dies.
- B.
Reduced assimilate flux through the foot starves the capsule, arresting meiosis in spore mother cells and creating a reproductive bottleneck.
- C.
The sporophyte compensates for the nutritional deficit by upregulating photosynthesis in the seta, becoming a fully independent generation.
- D.
Mitotic proliferation of the sporogenous tissue is accelerated to ensure maximum spore production despite the environmental stress.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Bryophyte Sporophyte Anatomy|Meiotic Reductional Division|Capsule_Meiospores
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: This question tests the physiological depth of the NCERT line 'the sporophyte is not free-living but attached to the photosynthetic gametophyte and derives nourishment from it.' Students often memorize this fact but fail to apply it to energetic demands (NPP) and the specific mechanism of nutrient transfer (the foot).
The primary trap (Option A) exploits a common misconception regarding the timing and location of meiosis across different plant groups, confusing the sporic meiosis of bryophytes with the zygotic meiosis of algae.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Plant Kingdom - Class 11 |
| Concept | Bryophyte Sporophyte Anatomy |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |