Question

Which one of the following seeds can be dispersed by the birds?
A.Papaya
B.Mango
C.Litchi
D.Neem

Answer 1

Seeds dispersal is the spreading of seeds away from the parent plant by different agents to allow better survival of the offspring. The agent of dispersal of seeds is wind, water, animals, gravity and explosion. Seeds dispersal is the movement of seeds from the parent plant to another plant with the help of insects, wind, birds and many more factors.

Complete answer:
There are so many agents of dispersal of seeds like wind, water, animals, gravity and explosion.
Wind dispersal: the wind is the natural and primary means by which seeds are dispersed. Such type of dispersal is mainly observed in those plants who produce very light seeds.
For example: drumstick Orchid plant, Ash.
Water dispersal: in such a mode of seed dispersal of seeds float away from their origin plant. These are chiefly found in those plants which lives within the water or nearby the water bodies like lakes, Ponds, etc.
For example: water lily, mangroves, water mint.
Animal dispersal: there are different ways in which animals and birds disperse the seeds. Few animals and birds eat the entire fruit, and only the juicy part is digested by their system and the seeds are excreted out with their droppings. There are few plants which have seeds with hooks that catch on the fur of animals and are carried away to different places.
For example: Blackberry, Cherry, tomato.
Gravity dispersal: as the fruits fall on the ground from the tree due to the force of gravity they seldom roll down to some smaller distance, get buried in the soil and germinate into a new plant.
For example: Apple, coconut, passion fruit.
Fruits of neem are eaten by birds, and they are unable to digest it, so they remove it with excreta and the seed is dispersed. While papaya, mango and Litchi are fruits that are eaten by other animals also so they are dispersed by others including humans.

Hence the correct answer is OPTION(D)

Note: Seed dispersal is very important for the survival chances of the plant. It can be beneficial to many in Escape from density-dependent seedling mortality, that is death, due to overcrowding and also to find places with better conditions. Seed formation is the part of reproduction in angiosperm and gymnosperm.