Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement (I): SDP require long uninterrupted dark period for flowering.
Statement (II): If dark period is interrupted even by a flash of light, SDP will flower.
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:

Short day plants are really long night plants and need a continuous dark period longer than a critical length. A flash of light in that night cancels the flowering response.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
Short day plants (SDP) such as Xanthium and soybean flower only when the night is longer than a critical length.
What matters is the length of the continuous dark period, not the day.

Step 2: Check Statement (I)
SDP need a long, uninterrupted dark period for flowering, so Statement (I) is correct.

Step 3: Check Statement (II)
A short flash of light in the middle of the dark period breaks the night, so the critical dark length is lost and the SDP does not flower.
Statement (II) says the opposite, so it is incorrect.

Step 4: Conclusion
Statement (I) is correct and Statement (II) is incorrect.

Final Answer:
Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect. \[ \boxed{\text{(C) }\text{Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.}} \]