Question

The alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale of Liliaceae induces
(a) Sterility
(b) Dormancy
(c) Cell division
(d) polyploidy

Answer 1

Plants secondary metabolism produces alkaloids, phenolic, and terpenoids. These secondary compounds are involved in the protection of plants against pathogens, have many other cell functions and some protect them from herbivores predators.

Complete answer:
Alkaloids are the secondary metabolites that contain one nitrogen atom. They have diverse physiological effects on organisms, some of the alkaloids induced are; morphine, quinine, nicotine, strychnine, colchicines, and ephedrine.
Among these, colchicine is alkaloids found in Colchicum autumnale plants that involve the induction of polyploidy in plants. It involves the prevention of formation of microtubules during cell division, because of this chromosomes do not get apart and the result of which the chromosome number gets doubled than normal.

Now lets us find the solution from the given options:
1. Sterility in plants results in the inactivation of pollen release function that results in failure of stamen function, formation of microspore or gametes. In some plants propenoids induce male sterility in plants.
2. Now, dormancy is a phenomenon in plants in which the plant growth gets arrested. Ethylene is involved in the seed dormancy process.
3. Cell division is the process where the cell gets proliferated. The cell division in some plants is induced by alkaloids but not in case of Colchicum autumnale.
4. Polyploidy is the presence of more than one pair of chromosomes. In Colchicum autumnale , polyploidy is induced by alkaloids by holding the microtubule formation during division of cells.

Hence, the correct option is ‘polyploidy’.

Note: The secondary metabolites have many important functions in humans and other animals. Such as, ephedrine is a secondary metabolite that helps in lowering the blood pressure in humans, terpenoid is also a secondary metabolite that is responsible for aromatic qualities and used as herbal remedies.