Question

Why is vivipary an undesirable character for annual crop plants?
A. It reduces the vigor of the plant.
B. It adversely affects the fertility of the plant.
C. The seeds exhibit long dormancy.
D. The seeds can’t be stored under normal conditions for next season.

Answer 1

Vivipary occurs in plants when seeds or embryos begin to grow before detaching from their parents. Cormlets grow in the axils of the inflorescences of some Iridaceae and Agavoideae plants. They have basically a whole season's start over fallen seeds in the fall, if conditions are favourable. Vivipary occurs when seeds germinate prematurely when still inside or attached to the parent plant or fruit. True viviparous species prefer shallow marine habitats, while pseudo viviparous species prefer arctic, alpine, or arid environments.

Complete explanation:
Option A: A viviparous plant is one in which the seeds produced by the plant begin to germinate while the parent's body is still attached to it. Even before they are removed from their parents' bodies, they begin to germinate.
So, option A is correct.
Option B: Vivipary refers to reproduction by embryos, such as shoots or bulbils, rather than germinating from a fallen, dormant seed, as is the case with plants.
So, option c is incorrect.
Option C: Seeds germinate prematurely when still inside or attached to the parent plant or fruit, a condition known as vivipary.
So, option C is incorrect.
Option D: It's because the seeds can't be processed for the next season in natural conditions. Annual plants have a one-season life cycle, in which seeds are produced, germinated, and the mature plant is produced, and then dies during the same season.
So, option D is correct.

Hence, Option A is the correct answer.

Note:
They begin to germinate even before they are separated from their parents' bodies. This form of germination can be seen in mangroves belonging to the rhizophora family. Seeds or spores germinate in situ on mature plants before being released in vivipary, which is not possible with annual plants because mature plants do not store seeds. This is due to the fact that it died after seed generation.