Question:
An ant attractant which helps in seed dispersal and arises as an outgrowth from surface of seed having fats and oils is
An ant attractant which helps in seed dispersal and arises as an outgrowth from surface of seed having fats and oils is
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The prefix "elaio-" comes from the Greek word for oil or fat (as in oleic acid).
This linguistic link makes it easier to remember that an "elaiosome" is literally an "oil body" designed to attract ants.
This linguistic link makes it easier to remember that an "elaiosome" is literally an "oil body" designed to attract ants.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
- Elaiosome
- Protosome
- Deutrosome
- Allosome
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Myrmecochory is a specialized form of mutualistic seed dispersal where ants transport seeds to their nests.
Plants adapted to this dispersal mechanism produce specialized, nutrient-rich appendages on their seeds called elaiosomes.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
An elaiosome is a fleshy, lipid-rich structure attached to the seed coat of many plant species.
These structures are evolutionary adaptations specifically designed to attract ants.
Chemically, elaiosomes contain high concentrations of lipids, fatty acids (such as oleic acid), proteins, and essential vitamins.
The composition of fatty acids often mimics insect prey, triggering a strong retrieving response in foraging ants.
When an ant finds a seed with an elaiosome, it carries the entire seed back to its subterranean nest.
Once inside the colony, the elaiosome is consumed by the ant larvae or the adult workers.
Because the seed itself is tough and unpalatable, it remains undamaged.
After the elaiosome is consumed, the ants discard the intact seed in their underground waste chambers (refuse piles).
These refuse chambers are rich in organic nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus, providing an ideal microenvironment for seed germination.
Furthermore, being buried underground protects the seed from seed predators (such as birds and rodents) and catastrophic environmental events like forest fires.
The other options provided represent different terms:
- Protosome is a developmental biology term related to early embryonic structures.
- Deutrosome is a cellular structure involved in ciliogenesis.
- Allosome refers to a sex chromosome.
Thus, the correct ecological and anatomical term for the lipid-rich seed outgrowth is the elaiosome.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The specialized lipid-rich outgrowth that attracts ants for seed dispersal is the elaiosome.
Myrmecochory is a specialized form of mutualistic seed dispersal where ants transport seeds to their nests.
Plants adapted to this dispersal mechanism produce specialized, nutrient-rich appendages on their seeds called elaiosomes.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
An elaiosome is a fleshy, lipid-rich structure attached to the seed coat of many plant species.
These structures are evolutionary adaptations specifically designed to attract ants.
Chemically, elaiosomes contain high concentrations of lipids, fatty acids (such as oleic acid), proteins, and essential vitamins.
The composition of fatty acids often mimics insect prey, triggering a strong retrieving response in foraging ants.
When an ant finds a seed with an elaiosome, it carries the entire seed back to its subterranean nest.
Once inside the colony, the elaiosome is consumed by the ant larvae or the adult workers.
Because the seed itself is tough and unpalatable, it remains undamaged.
After the elaiosome is consumed, the ants discard the intact seed in their underground waste chambers (refuse piles).
These refuse chambers are rich in organic nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus, providing an ideal microenvironment for seed germination.
Furthermore, being buried underground protects the seed from seed predators (such as birds and rodents) and catastrophic environmental events like forest fires.
The other options provided represent different terms:
- Protosome is a developmental biology term related to early embryonic structures.
- Deutrosome is a cellular structure involved in ciliogenesis.
- Allosome refers to a sex chromosome.
Thus, the correct ecological and anatomical term for the lipid-rich seed outgrowth is the elaiosome.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The specialized lipid-rich outgrowth that attracts ants for seed dispersal is the elaiosome.
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