Question

Sunflower is pollinated by insects while rice is pollinated by the wind. How are these plants adapted to their respective type of pollination method?

Answer 1

Pollination is defined as the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of the stamen to the stigma of the carpel after which fertilization can take place. Pollination is classified into many types on the basis of how the pollen is being transferred which can be through insects (entomophily) or wind (anemophily).

Complete Answer:
Pollination is carried out by various methods including biotic (animals) and non- biotic (physical) factors. But for each type of pollination to be carried out, there has to be some kind of modifications in the plant so that the pollination can happen successfully. Let us look at the modifications that have occurred in:
Sunflower: Sunflower is pollinated by insects i.e. entomophily so the modifications seen in it are to attract insects such as large and bright colored flowers that insects can easily see. Rewards such as nectar and fragrance which will force the insect to stay for a longer time on a flower thus allowing pollination to take place. When insects move from flower to flower in search of nectar, they accidentally transfer pollen thus causing pollination.
Rice: Rice is pollinated by wind i.e. anemophily and thus has modifications that will ease the process. The pollen grains produced are light and feathery so that they can be easily carried by the wind. A large number of pollen grains are released to ensure good chances of pollination to occur. The stigma of the carpel is long and feathery so that it can capture more pollen grains.

Note:
- In cases like the Yucca plant which is pollinated by a moth, the plant gives it food and shelter to lay its eggs in exchange for pollination.
- An orchid plant employs pseudocopulation in order to get pollination done.
- One petal of this plant looks exactly like the female of a bee species and the male bee in the process of reproducing with this flower ends up pollinating it.