In a botanical garden, which one of the following biological processes is never directly influenced by light?

Introduction / Context:
Questions about the role of light in plant processes are common in school and competitive examinations because they test basic understanding of plant physiology. In a botanical garden, many processes take place simultaneously, such as flowering, photosynthesis, transpiration, and fertilization. Some of these are strongly and directly controlled by light, whereas others occur largely independent of light intensity and duration. This question asks which listed process is never directly influenced by light, so the focus is on finding the process that does not rely on light as a direct regulatory signal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The setting is a botanical garden with normal environmental conditions.
• Four processes are listed: flowering, photosynthesis, transpiration, and fertilization.
• Light is considered as an external environmental factor affecting plant processes.
• We are asked to identify the process that is not directly influenced by light.

Concept / Approach:
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacture food using light energy, so it is directly dependent on light. Transpiration is the loss of water vapour mainly through stomata, whose opening and closing are strongly influenced by light intensity, so it is also directly affected. Flowering in many plants is controlled by photoperiodism, where day length and light quality directly influence the initiation of flowers. Fertilization, on the other hand, occurs after pollination, when the male gamete fuses with the female gamete inside the ovary. This process is governed by internal biochemical and cellular mechanisms rather than direct light action, making it the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
An easy way to verify this reasoning is to imagine a fertilized ovule inside a flower bud or within fruits that develop in shaded conditions. Fertilization and subsequent embryo development can proceed even when light is minimal or absent, provided other basic conditions are met. In contrast, if light is removed, photosynthesis stops, stomata behave differently, and photoperiodic plants might not flower correctly. This confirms that fertilization is the least directly influenced by light among the given options.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Flowering of plants: Often controlled by photoperiod, where day length and light quality directly influence the floral response, so it is strongly affected by light.
• Photosynthesis in green leaves: This process cannot occur without light because light energy is essential for converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
• Transpiration through stomata: Stomata typically open in light and close in darkness, making transpiration rate closely linked to light intensity.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes think that because fertilization happens in flowers that are exposed to light, light must directly control it. However, the key idea is that fertilization is an internal cellular and genetic process. Another common mistake is to confuse indirect environmental influences with direct control. Light may indirectly influence reproductive timing, but the act of gamete fusion itself is not light dependent.

Final Answer:
The process in a botanical garden that is never directly influenced by light is Fertilization inside the ovary.