Question

In maize there is:
A. Cross Pollination by rain
B. Cross pollination by wind
C. Cross pollination by insect
D. Self-pollination

Answer 1

The pollen grains of maize are lighter so that they can be easily carried away by wind. They are produced in large numbers so that even if a few of them fail to reach the stigma of another flower, even then there will be some viable pollen left to fertilize the egg cell.

Complete answer:
To know the correct answer to the question, we must be well aware of pollination.
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same or different flower.
Pollination is of two types- self-pollination and cross-pollination.
Self-pollination- The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower is known self-pollination.
Cross-pollination- The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower is known as cross-pollination.
Cross pollination by rain is the pollination in which rain acts as an agent of pollination.
Cross pollination by insects is also known as entomophily. In this the insects are involved in pollination. They act as the pollinating agents.
Maize produces a large number of pollen grains. Its pollen grains are non-sticky and can be transferred with the help of the wind currents.
The stamens of maize are exposed so that the chances of trapping of pollen grains are maximized.

So, the correct answer to the question is cross-pollination by wind.

Note: Self-pollination is also known to occur in maize but mostly, the plant is cross pollinated. The tassels of the maize are nothing but the style and the stigma. They keep hanging and wave in the air so they can easily trap the pollinated pollen grains.