Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): The flowers of ridge gourd start opening in the evening and remain open throughout the night.
Statement (II): Pollination of ridge gourd is done in the day time.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
• C. Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
• D. Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.

Hint:

Think about which cucurbits are day bloomers versus night bloomers.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Look at each statement using the flowering biology of cucurbits.
Cucurbits split into two groups by anthesis time: night bloomers pollinated by moths, such as bottle gourd and snake gourd, and day bloomers pollinated by bees, such as ridge gourd, cucumber and muskmelon. Ridge gourd belongs to the day blooming group, so its flowers open in the early morning, not the evening. This rules out Statement (I).
Because the flowers are open and receptive only during daylight hours, bee visits and pollination also happen in the day time, which matches Statement (II).
\[\boxed{\text{Statement (I) incorrect, Statement (II) correct}}\]