Question

Which option identifies the likely result of the following scenario?

Teresa has planted several types of fruit-bearing trees in her backyard and is looking forward to the day that they will begin producing fruit. Fruit trees require pollination in order to bear fruit. Her apricot trees can self-pollinate, meaning that pollen transferred between flowers on the same tree is sufficient to enable them to bear fruit. This primarily happens with the help of honeybees. Her Granny Smith apple trees, however, require cross-pollination, meaning that they need pollen not only from another Granny Smith tree but also pollen from another type apple tree (e.g., Golden Delicious) planted nearby. The insect population had swelled this year and Teresa used a pesticide on her fruit trees that ended up killing her Golden Delicious apple trees.


A. She will get fruit from the apricot trees only.

B. She will get fruit from both the apricot and Granny Smith trees.

C. She will get fruit from none of the trees.

D. She will get fruit from the Granny Smith trees only.

Answer 1

Teresa will only get fruit from the apricot trees, as they can self-pollinate. The Granny Smith apple trees will not bear fruit due to the lack of a necessary pollinator following the death of the Golden Delicious trees from pesticide use.

Step-by-step explanation:

The likely result of the scenario where Teresa used a pesticide that ended up killing her Golden Delicious apple trees would be: A. She will get fruit from the apricot trees only. This is because apricot trees can self-pollinate and do not require another tree to bear fruit. However, the Granny Smith apple trees require cross-pollination, not only from another Granny Smith tree but also from a different type of apple tree, such as the Golden Delicious. With the Golden Delicious apple trees dead due to pesticide use, there is no available pollinator to enable the Granny Smith trees to bear fruit.

Fruit trees and their pollination are vital to the fruit harvest industry. Pollination by insects, primarily bees, is crucial for the production of fruit. Bees are efficient pollinators because they transfer pollen while collecting nectar, contributing significantly to the biodiversity and health of ecosystems. Their decline can have a devastating impact on fruit-bearing trees and, by extension, on industries like honey and jam production.