Explain why natural selection might favor the production of

Explain why natural selection might favor the production of phytoestrogens by some plants.

Solution

The exact role of phytoestrogens or the dietary fibers in the plant biology is not known, but the two possible reasons explained are,

1). They act as fungicides and prevent the growth of mould on the plants

2). They suppress the fertility in birds, so save the number of seeds available for propagation, which increases the reproductive success of the plants.

These might the probable reason why natural selection favor the production of phytoestrogens by some plants.