Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Sexual reproduction in flowering plants (angiosperms) follows a distinct biological sequence. It begins with the formation of gametes, followed by the transfer of male gametes, fusion of gametes, and finally the development of the embryo, seed, and fruit.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther (male part) to the stigma (female part). This process is a prerequisite for fertilization because it delivers the male gametes to the female reproductive structure. Fertilization, the fusion of male and female gametes, can only occur after successful pollination and the growth of the pollen tube.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Fruit formation is a post-fertilization event where the ovary matures into a fruit and ovules develop into seeds. Seed dispersal is the process of scattering these mature seeds away from the parent plant. Therefore, fruit formation precedes seed dispersal.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Pollen grains are formed inside the anthers through a process called microsporogenesis, which occurs well before pollination and fertilization. Fertilization results in the formation of a zygote (which develops into an embryo) and the primary endosperm nucleus, not pollen grains.
Key Takeaway: The chronological order of reproductive events in angiosperms is: Gametogenesis (Pollen formation) → Pollination → Fertilization → Fruit/Seed Formation → Seed Dispersal.