What is the function of tassels in the corn cob?
To attract insects
To trap pollen grains
To disperse pollen grains
To protect seeds
The correct option is Option 3) To disperse pollen grains
Tassels are the male reproductive structures found at the top of the corn cob in corn plants. Their primary function is to produce and release pollen grains, which are the male gametes. The tassels are composed of numerous long and slender filaments, each bearing anthers at their tips.
The anthers within the tassels contain the pollen grains. When the corn plant is mature and ready for pollination, the tassels release large amounts of pollen into the air. The purpose of releasing pollen is to ensure successful fertilization of the female reproductive structures called silk.
The silks, found in the ear of the corn cob, are the female reproductive structures. The pollen released from the tassels is carried by wind or other pollinators to the silks, where the process of fertilization occurs.
The tassels, with their filaments and anthers, effectively trap and release the pollen grains, allowing them to be dispersed and transported to the female flowers for pollination and fertilization. This is essential for successful seed production in corn plants.
Therefore, the main function of tassels in the corn cob is to trap but majorly it is to release pollen grains for the purpose of pollination and fertilization.