Which of the following statements is correct?
- Sporopollenin can be degraded by enzymes.
- Sporopollenin is made up of inorganic materials.
- Sporopollenin can withstand high temperatures as well as strong acids and alkalis.
- Sporopollenin can withstand high temperatures but not strong acids.
Answer
(3) Sporopollenin can withstand high temperatures as well as strong acids and alkalis.
Solution
As per NCERT, the hard outer layer of the pollen grain (exine) is made up of sporopollenin.
⇒ Sporopollenin is one of the most resistant organic materials known.
⇒ It can withstand high temperatures and strong acids and alkali.
⇒ No enzyme that degrades sporopollenin is so far known.
∴ Only statement (3) is correct.
Answer: (3)