In the garden, there are two orchid plants, one of which pseudocopulates while the other does not. Considering their different reproductive strategies, which of the following outcomes is most likely regarding pollination?
Plant 1 will pollinate.
Plant 2 will pollinate.
Both of them will pollinate.
None of them will pollinate.
Option 1 is correct because Plant 1 will be pollinated if the pollinator that pseudocopulation with it is present in the garden and the pseudocopulation procedure is effective.
Pseudocopulation is a pollination process used by certain orchids in which they imitate the female of the pollinator species in order to attract the male pollinator, who then pollinates the flower. This is an example of orchid and pollinator-specialized coevolution.
Explanation for the incorrect options :
Option 2 is incorrect because it does not specify how Plant 2 pollinates or whether it uses a different pollination process than pseudocopulation. As a result, based on the information presented, it is difficult to predict whether Plant 2 will pollinate or not.
Option 2 is incorrect because the question asks which orchid plant will pollinate. Although both plants may attract pollinators, only one of them will be pollinated.
Option 2 is incorrect because Plant 1 will be pollinated if the suitable pollinator is present and the pseudocopulation procedure is effective. Furthermore, it is possible that Plant 2 has a different pollination mechanism and thus can still be pollinated. As a result, it is not possible to assume that none of the plants will be pollinated.