Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Pollen grains are well preserved as fossils. Reason (R): The inner wall of the pollen grain, called intine, is highly resistant to strong acids and enzymes. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true: Pollen grains are well preserved as fossils because of the presence of a highly resistant organic material called sporopollenin in their outer layer. Reason (R) is false: The inner wall of the pollen grain is the intine, which is a thin and continuous layer made up of cellulose and pectin. It is not highly resistant. The extreme resistance to high temperatures, strong acids, and enzymes is provided entirely by the outer layer, the exine, which is composed of sporopollenin. Therefore, Assertio