Reproduction in Plants — Class 7 Science NCERT Solutions (Free)
Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 7 Science chapter "Reproduction in Plants" — 8 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.
TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 7 Science chapter "Reproduction in Plants" — 8 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board ex…
Written & reviewed by the Syllab.in Academic Team (CBSE/NCERT subject experts) · Updated
NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science — Reproduction in Plants. Step-by-step answers to all 8 textbook questions from this chapter, written for CBSE board preparation and free to use.
Reproduction in Plants — All 8 Questions Solved
Q1. What is asexual reproduction in plants?
Asexual reproduction is a process of reproduction that does not involve fusion of gametes. In plants, a single parent produces offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. Examples: vegetative propagation through runners (grass), tubers (potato), bulbs (onion), fragmentation (liverwort).
Q2. Name three methods of asexual reproduction in plants.
Step 1: Vegetative propagation - reproduction through vegetative parts like runners, bulbs, tubers, fragmentation.
Step 2: Examples - Potato (tubers), Strawberry (runners), Onion (bulbs), Bryophyllum (leaf buds).
Step 3: All produce clones genetically identical to parent plant.
Q3. What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction: involves two parents, gamete fusion, produces genetically different offspring, slower process.
Asexual reproduction: involves one parent, no gamete fusion, produces genetically identical offspring (clones), faster process.
Example: Rose by cutting (asexual), Rose from seed (sexual).
Q4. Define pollination and fertilization.
Pollination: transfer of pollen from anther to stigma of a flower (same or different plant). Occurs through wind, water, insects, or animals.
Fertilization: fusion of male gamete (nucleus in pollen) with female gamete (nucleus in ovule) inside the ovary to form zygote.
Q5. What are the structures in a flower involved in reproduction?
Male parts: Stamen (anther + filament) - produces pollen.
Female parts: Pistil (stigma + style + ovary) - contains ovules.
Other: Sepals (protection), Petals (attraction), Nectary (attracts pollinators).
Reproductive organs = Stamen + Pistil.
Q6. Explain the process of seed development after fertilization.
Step 1: After fertilization, zygote develops into embryo.
Step 2: Ovule integuments form seed coat (protective layer).
Step 3: Ovary wall develops into fruit (protects seeds).
Step 4: Inside seed: embryo (radicle, plumule) + cotyledons (food storage).
Step 5: Mature seed can remain dormant until favorable conditions.
Q7. How do seeds germinate? What conditions are necessary?
Seed germination: process of growth of embryo into a seedling. Conditions needed: (1) Adequate water - seed absorbs water, swells, softens coat; (2) Suitable temperature - 25-30°C optimal; (3) Oxygen - for respiration. Unfavorable conditions cause dormancy (resting state) to break only when conditions improve.
Q8. What is the role of fruit in plant reproduction?
Role of fruit: (1) Protection - seed coat safeguards developing seeds; (2) Dispersal - helps spread seeds away from parent plant; (3) Nutrition - provides food for seedling growth. Fruits may be fleshy (berry, mango) for animal dispersal or dry (pods, samaras) for wind/water dispersal.
Reproduction in Plants — Practice MCQs with Answers
Attempt these 20 multiple-choice questions after working through the solutions above. Each carries the correct option and the reasoning behind it, so a wrong answer tells you which idea to revisit.
MCQ 1. Which of the following is a type of asexual reproduction in plants?
- A. Fertilisation
- B. Pollination
- C. Vegetative propagation
- D. Seed dispersal
Answer: C. Vegetative propagation — Vegetative propagation is a method of asexual reproduction where new plants are produced from vegetative parts like stem, root, leaves, or buds.
MCQ 2. New plants can be produced from the stem cutting of which plant?
- A. Wheat
- B. Rice
- C. Rose
- D. Mango
Answer: C. Rose — Rose plants are commonly grown by stem cuttings, which is a method of artificial vegetative propagation.
MCQ 3. The plant part used for reproduction in Bryophyllum is its:
- A. Root
- B. Stem
- C. Leaf
- D. Flower
Answer: C. Leaf — Bryophyllum plants reproduce asexually through buds developed on the margins of their leaves.
MCQ 4. Eyes are present on which part of the potato plant for vegetative propagation?
- A. Root
- B. Leaf
- C. Stem
- D. Flower
Answer: C. Stem — Potatoes are underground stems, and the 'eyes' are buds from which new potato plants can grow.
MCQ 5. In organisms like Spirogyra, the body simply breaks up into two or more fragments. This method of reproduction is called:
- A. Budding
- B. Spore formation
- C. Fragmentation
- D. Cutting
Answer: C. Fragmentation — Fragmentation is a type of asexual reproduction where an organism breaks into two or more pieces, and each piece develops into a new individual. Spirogyra reproduces this way.
MCQ 6. The colourful parts of a flower that attract insects are called:
- A. Sepals
- B. Petals
- C. Stamens
- D. Pistil
Answer: B. Petals — Petals are often brightly coloured and fragrant to attract pollinators like insects and birds.
MCQ 7. Which of the following is the male reproductive part of a flower?
- A. Pistil
- B. Ovary
- C. Stamen
- D. Stigma
Answer: C. Stamen — The stamen is the male reproductive part of a flower, consisting of the anther (which produces pollen) and the filament.
MCQ 8. The part of the pistil that receives pollen during pollination is the:
- A. Ovary
- B. Style
- C. Stigma
- D. Anther
Answer: C. Stigma — The stigma is the sticky, receptive tip of the pistil that catches pollen grains during pollination.
MCQ 9. Where are the ovules located in a flower?
- A. Anther
- B. Stigma
- C. Petal
- D. Ovary
Answer: D. Ovary — Ovules, which contain the female gametes, are located inside the ovary, the swollen basal part of the pistil.
MCQ 10. What is produced by the anther of a flower?
- A. Ovules
- B. Seeds
- C. Pollen grains
- D. Fruits
Answer: C. Pollen grains — The anther is part of the stamen (male reproductive organ) and produces pollen grains, which contain the male gametes.
MCQ 11. The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a flower is called:
- A. Fertilisation
- B. Germination
- C. Pollination
- D. Dispersal
Answer: C. Pollination — Pollination is the process by which pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma, a crucial step for sexual reproduction in plants.
MCQ 12. When pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant, it is known as:
- A. Cross-pollination
- B. Self-pollination
- C. External pollination
- D. Artificial pollination
Answer: B. Self-pollination — Self-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred within the same flower or between flowers on the same plant.
MCQ 13. Which of the following is an agent for cross-pollination?
- A. Wind
- B. Water
- C. Insects
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above — Wind, water, and various animals (like insects, birds, bats) are common agents that carry pollen from one flower to another in cross-pollination.
MCQ 14. Flowers pollinated by wind often have:
- A. Large, brightly coloured petals
- B. Sweet fragrance
- C. Nectar
- D. Small, inconspicuous petals and abundant light pollen
Answer: D. Small, inconspicuous petals and abundant light pollen — Wind-pollinated flowers typically lack showy petals, fragrance, and nectar as they don't need to attract animals. They produce large amounts of light, easily airborne pollen.
MCQ 15. The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote is called:
- A. Pollination
- B. Germination
- C. Fertilisation
- D. Dispersal
Answer: C. Fertilisation — Fertilisation is the process where the male gamete (from pollen) fuses with the female gamete (in the ovule) to form a zygote, which then develops into an embryo.
MCQ 16. After fertilisation, the ovary of a flower develops into a:
- A. Seed
- B. Fruit
- C. Stem
- D. Root
Answer: B. Fruit — Following fertilisation, the ovary matures and develops into the fruit, which encloses the seeds.
MCQ 17. After fertilisation, the ovules present inside the ovary develop into:
- A. Fruit
- B. Seed
- C. Stem
- D. Root
Answer: B. Seed — Each ovule inside the ovary develops into a seed after successful fertilisation, containing the embryo of the new plant.
MCQ 18. A flower that contains either only stamens or only pistils is known as a:
- A. Bisexual flower
- B. Unisexual flower
- C. Complete flower
- D. Perfect flower
Answer: B. Unisexual flower — Unisexual flowers have either male reproductive parts (stamens) or female reproductive parts (pistil), but not both. Examples include corn and papaya.
MCQ 19. Why is seed dispersal important for plants?
- A. To increase competition
- B. To reduce genetic variation
- C. To prevent overcrowding
- D. To make fruits tastier
Answer: C. To prevent overcrowding — Seed dispersal helps plants spread their seeds away from the parent plant, reducing competition for resources and preventing overcrowding.
MCQ 20. Seeds with hooks or spines, like Xanthium, are primarily dispersed by:
- A. Wind
- B. Water
- C. Animals
- D. Explosion
Answer: C. Animals — Seeds with hooks or spines attach to the fur or feathers of animals, facilitating their dispersal over long distances.
How to Use These Solutions
Attempt each question yourself first and only then compare with the worked answer. Marks in the CBSE board exam are awarded for the METHOD as much as the final result, so reproduce the steps rather than memorising the last line. Where a solution states a law, a formula or a definition, learn that wording — examiners look for it.
Related practice for this chapter: chapter MCQs, previous-year questions, revision notes and sample papers.