Recently, genes have been indentified in angiosperms that are important in preventing pollen from germinating or growing into the stigma. the locus where the genes are found has been termed thea. strict reproductive locus b. similarity locus c. selfless locus d. sterility locus

D. Sterility Locus

Explanation:

Angiosperms have several mechanisms to prevent self-pollination due to the advantage of cross-pollination. One of such mechanisms is self-incompatibility genes present on the sterility locus.

These genes determine the germination of the pollen on the stigma. If both the pollen and stigma carry the same allele of the gene present at the sterility locus, the germination of pollen is prevented.  

The sterility locus has multiple alleles and the presence of the same alleles at the same locus in both pollen and stigma prevents the pollen germination.

For example, pollen from S1S2 individuals can not germinate on the stigma with the S1S3 genotype. Here, the pollen does not obtain water as required for germination from the stigma and are unable to germinate.  

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