- A Direct competition occurring specifically between male and female flowers located on the very same individual plant species as widely reported in standard practice
- B Multiple pollen grains competing to fertilize the egg -- pollen with superior competitive ability (faster tube growth) selected, potentially improving offspring fitness
- C Pollen grains competing directly against fern spores for occupation of the exact same ecological niche space available under most conditions encountered as frequently observed in practice
- D Competition that occurs mainly between different plant species when attracting the same shared pollinator visitors nearby in many documented cases according to conventional understanding
Correct answer: B. Multiple pollen grains competing to fertilize the egg -- pollen with superior competitive ability (faster tube growth) selected, potentially improving offspring fitness
Explanation: Pollen competition: when many pollen grains germinate on a stigma, faster or more vigorous pollen tubes are more likely to fertilize the egg. May select for superior gametes, increasing offspring quality.
Concept context
Flower structure, pollination, double fertilization, and seed/fruit development — the highest-scoring Class 12 biology chapter in NEET.
Read the full Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants notes →