Question

Pigeonpea is a:

• A. Highly self pollinated crop
• B. Often cross pollinated crop
• C. Apomictic crop
• D. Cross pollinated crop

Hint:

Often cross-pollinated crops require isolation distance during seed production to maintain genetic purity.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Crops are classified according to their pollination behavior into self-pollinated, cross-pollinated, and often cross-pollinated crops. Often cross-pollinated crops mainly self-pollinate but also exhibit considerable natural outcrossing.

Step 1: Study the pollination mechanism of Pigeonpea.
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) flowers are generally self-fertile. However, insects such as bees frequently visit the flowers and promote cross-pollination.

Step 2: Classify the crop based on outcrossing percentage.
Natural cross-pollination in pigeonpea ranges approximately from 20% to 40%, which is much higher than in purely self-pollinated crops. Hence, it is classified as an often cross-pollinated crop.