Final answer:
The physiological constraints that keep Fuchsia excorticata from dropping flowers sooner include the time required for pollen to reach the ovary, formation of the abscission zone, and a waiting period after pollination before dropping.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physiological constraints that keep Fuchsia excorticata from dropping flowers sooner include:
- Time required for pollen to reach ovary (3 days): Once pollination occurs, it takes approximately three days for the pollen to travel down the pollen tube and reach the ovary where fertilization can take place.
- Formation of the abscission zone (1.5 days): After fertilization, it takes about 1.5 days for the abscission zone to form, which is an area of weakened cell walls that eventually leads to the detachment of the flower.
- Waiting period of 4.5 days after pollination before dropping: There is also a waiting period of 4.5 days after pollination before the flower drops, which provides enough time for seed development.
Therefore, the correct answer is d) All of the above are physiological constraints.