Question

One of the following crops produces recalcitrant seeds.

• A. Wheat
• B. Maize
• C. Tea
• D. Rice

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Recalcitrant seeds (sometimes known as unorthodox seeds) are seeds that do not survive drying and freezing during ex-situ conservation. Moreover, these seeds cannot resist the effects of drying or temperatures less than 10${}^o$C thus, they cannot be stored for long periods like orthodox seeds because they can lose their viability. Plants that produce recalcitrant seeds include avocado, mango, mangosteen, lychee, tea, cocoa, rubber tree, some horticultural trees, and several plants used in traditional medicine such as species of Virola and Pentaclethra.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.