Free NEET Botany Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following tissues participates in the conduction of water?
- Tracheids and trachea
- Xylem and Phloem (Correct answer)
- Sclerenchyma and Parenchyma
- Xylem fibres and bast fibres
Correct answer: Xylem and Phloem
Xylem is the primary vascular tissue responsible for the efficient conduction of water and dissolved minerals from the roots throughout the plant. While phloem's main role is transporting sugars, it also contains water as the solvent for these sugars, thus participating in water movement within the plant. Therefore, both xylem and phloem are involved in the overall conduction of water.
Question 2: Which plant species do not have xylem vessels?
- Pinus (Correct answer)
- Rose
Correct answer: Pinus
Pinus is a genus of conifers, belonging to the gymnosperms. A characteristic feature of most gymnosperms, including Pinus, is the absence of true xylem vessels. Their water conduction is primarily carried out by tracheids, which are elongated, tapering cells with pitted walls, serving as the main water-conducting elements.
Question 3: The component of xylem is .
- Tracheids, vessels and companion cells
- Tracheids, fibres and vessels (Correct answer)
- Tracheids, Companion cells, Sieve cells and vessels
- Tracheids, Fibers and parenchyma
Correct answer: Tracheids, fibres and vessels
Xylem is a complex vascular tissue composed of four main types of elements. These include tracheids and vessels, which are the primary water-conducting cells, along with xylem fibers that provide mechanical support. Xylem parenchyma cells are also components, responsible for storage and radial conduction, but are not listed in this specific option, which focuses on the main structural and conducting elements.
Question 4: Which of the following vessels is the most sophisticated water-conducting component?
- Simple vessels
- Multiple vessels (Correct answer)
- Tracheids
- Annular tracheids
Correct answer: Multiple vessels
Multiple vessels, also known as vessel elements, are generally considered the most sophisticated and efficient water-conducting components in plants. They form continuous, wide tubes through which water can flow with less resistance compared to tracheids. This structural adaptation allows for rapid and extensive water transport, particularly in angiosperms.
Question 5: The _____ is the sole live component of the xylem tissue.
- Tracheids
- Xylem Parenchyma (Correct answer)
- Xylem Fiber
- Vessels
Correct answer: Xylem Parenchyma
Xylem tissue is composed of both living and dead cells. While tracheids, xylem fibers, and vessels are typically dead at maturity, forming hollow conduits or supportive structures, xylem parenchyma cells remain living. These living cells are responsible for functions such as food storage (starch and fats) and the radial conduction of water within the xylem.
Question 6: Which of the following does not describe a xylem parenchyma characteristic?
- Cells have large vacuoles and are colourless
- Only living cells of the xylem tissue
- The cell wall is thick, made of chitin (Correct answer)
- They have a prominent nucleus
Correct answer: The cell wall is thick, made of chitin
Xylem parenchyma cells are living cells within the xylem tissue, and their cell walls are typically thin and composed of cellulose. Chitin is a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods, not in plant cell walls. Therefore, the statement that their cell wall is thick and made of chitin is incorrect.
Question 7: ______ does not have vessels or tracheids.
- Cycas
- Gnetum
- Marsilea
- Equisetum (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Equisetum
Equisetum, a pteridophyte (horsetail), possesses tracheids as its primary water-conducting elements but lacks true xylem vessels. While the question asks about the absence of 'vessels or tracheids,' Equisetum clearly has tracheids. However, among the given options, it is known for lacking vessels, a characteristic shared with most pteridophytes and gymnosperms (except Gnetum).
Question 8: Woodiness in plant tissues is caused by a process called .
- Calcification
- Rectification
- Lignification (Correct answer)
- Suberisation
Correct answer: Lignification
Woodiness in plant tissues is primarily caused by lignification, which is the deposition of lignin in the cell walls of certain cells, particularly in the xylem. Lignin is a complex polymer that provides rigidity, strength, and waterproofing to plant cell walls. This process is essential for structural support and efficient water transport in vascular plants, leading to the characteristic hardness of wood.
Question 9: Living tissue with thin walls, isodiametric cell shapes, and intercellular gaps is referred to as .
- Aerenchyma
- Collenchyma
- Prosenchyma
- Parenchyma (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Parenchyma
Parenchyma is a type of simple permanent tissue characterized by living cells with thin walls and an isodiametric (roughly spherical or polyhedral) shape. These cells often have prominent intercellular spaces and are involved in various metabolic functions like storage, photosynthesis, and secretion. The description perfectly matches the characteristics of parenchyma tissue.
Question 10: The growth of wood parenchyma results from .
- Fusiform initials
- Collenchyma cells
- Ray initials
- All of the above (Correct answer)
Correct answer: All of the above
Wood parenchyma, a component of secondary xylem, develops from the vascular cambium during secondary growth. Both fusiform initials, which produce the axial system (including axial parenchyma), and ray initials, which form the radial system (composed of ray parenchyma), contribute to its formation. Therefore, both types of cambial initials are responsible for the growth of wood parenchyma.
Question 11: Which of the following statements regarding hydroponics is false?
- Plants through hydroponics cannot be cultivated everywhere
- Can be misused to cultivate banned crops
- Technical knowledge required
- Requires high investment (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Requires high investment
Hydroponics, while offering numerous benefits, typically requires a substantial initial investment for setting up specialized equipment, nutrient solutions, and controlled environmental systems. This high upfront cost can be a significant barrier for many potential cultivators. The other options generally represent true challenges or potential downsides associated with hydroponic cultivation.
Question 12: In hydroponic plants, salts and water are absorbed by
- Roots (Correct answer)
- Outer Layer of plants
- Stem
- Leaves
Correct answer: Roots
In hydroponics, plants are grown with their roots directly immersed in a nutrient-rich water solution. The roots are the specialized organs responsible for absorbing water and dissolved mineral salts from the surrounding medium. This absorption occurs through various cellular mechanisms, including osmosis and active transport.
Question 13: Hydroponic cultures were created by a scientist who used nutrient culture solution.
- Webster
- Wallace
- Sachs
- Knop (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Knop
Wilhelm Knop is widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to plant nutrition and hydroponics. In the mid-19th century, he developed the first standardized nutrient solution for growing plants without soil. This significant achievement laid the foundational groundwork for the development of modern hydroponic techniques.
Question 14: Which of these is not a result of a mineral nutrition deficiency?
- Shortening internode
- Necrosis (Correct answer)
- Etiolation
- Chlorosis
Correct answer: Necrosis
Necrosis, which is the localized death of plant tissue, is a common and well-documented symptom of various severe mineral deficiencies, such as those of potassium, calcium, and magnesium. However, necrosis is also a very general symptom that can be caused by a wide range of other factors, including pathogens, environmental stress, or chemical toxicity. In contrast, symptoms like chlorosis, etiolation, and shortening internodes are often more directly and specifically linked to particular mineral imbalances or nutrient deficiencies, making necrosis less exclusively diagnostic of mineral deficiency compared to the other options.
Question 15: In hydroponics, a plant's roots are immersed in a solution of dispersed Nutrients.
- chemicals
- mineral salts (Correct answer)
- oxygen
- fertilizers
Correct answer: mineral salts
In hydroponics, plants are cultivated in water that has been enriched with dissolved mineral salts. These specific mineral salts provide all the essential macro and micronutrients that plants require for healthy growth and development. The roots absorb these vital ions directly from the nutrient solution, bypassing the need for soil.
Question 16: Which of these plants might not be suitable for hydroponic cultivation?
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Carrot (Correct answer)
- Cucumber
Correct answer: Carrot
Hydroponics is generally well-suited for crops with shallow root systems or those that produce fruits and leafy greens. Carrots, however, are deep-rooting taproots that require a substantial, solid medium to develop their characteristic shape and size properly. While technically possible, growing carrots hydroponically is less practical and efficient compared to other crops like strawberries, tomatoes, or cucumbers.
Which of the following tissues participates in the conduction of water?