Q.(a) List any two characteristic features of wheat flowers that make it a good example of wind pollination.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Wheat flowers show reduced, exposed anthers and feathery stigmas typical of wind pollination. Pollen banks are not used for wheat hybridisation because wheat pollen loses viability within minutes and cannot be stored.
Understanding wind pollination in wheat
Wind-pollinated plants have evolved a completely different strategy from insect-pollinated species. They don't need showy petals or nectar to attract pollinators; instead, they produce enormous quantities of light, dry pollen and rely on air currents to carry it to receptive stigmas. This shapes every aspect of their floral anatomy.
Wheat (Triticum) is a classic example of this syndrome. Its flowers are small, inconspicuous structures grouped in spikelets, and every feature reflects the physics of wind dispersal rather than animal attraction.
(a) Two characteristic features of wheat flowers
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Pendulous, well-exposed anthers
Wheat anthers dangle outside the flower on long, slender filaments. This positioning ensures that when the anthers dehisce (split open), the pollen is released directly into the wind rather than being trapped inside floral structures. The anthers are also versatile—they swing freely in even gentle breezes, shaking out pollen grains efficiently.
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Large, feathery (plumose) stigmas
The stigmas of wheat are branched and covered with fine hair-like projections that create a large surface area. This feathery structure acts like a net, maximising the chance of intercepting airborne pollen grains. Unlike the sticky stigmas of insect-pollinated flowers, these are dry but have a textured surface that traps wind-borne pollen mechanically.
Other wind-pollination features in wheat include: reduced or absent petals (no need for visual attraction), lack of nectar, production of vast quantities of light, smooth pollen grains, and protogyny (stigmas mature before anthers in the same flower, promoting cross-pollination).
(b) Use of pollen banks in wheat hybridisation
No, plant breeders do not use pollen banks for wheat hybridisation. …
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