Question 1

Prop roots are the modified aerial adventitious roots of corn that ________.

Accepted Answer

Prop roots are important for supporting tall, top-heavy plants such as corn. They grow from the stalk of the plant and extend downwards into the soil to provide extra stability and support.

Question 2

Which of the following have unevenly thickened primary walls that support young, growing parts of the plant?

Accepted Answer

Collenchyma cells have unevenly thickened primary walls that provide flexible support for young, growing parts of the plant. Parenchyma cells have thin cell walls and are involved in various functions such as photosynthesis, storage, and secretion. Sclerenchyma cells have thick, lignified secondary walls and provide rigid support. Tracheids and vessel elements are types of cells found in xylem tissue and are involved in water transport, but they do not have unevenly thickened primary walls.

Question 3

Which of the following are water-conducting cells that are dead at functional maturity?

Accepted Answer

Tracheids and vessel elements are water-conducting cells that are dead at functional maturity. Parenchyma and collenchyma cells are not involved in water conduction, and sieve-tube elements are involved in sugar transport, not water transport.

Question 4

Which structure is correctly paired with its tissue system?

Accepted Answer

Tracheids are a type of cell found within the xylem of vascular tissue, making option D the correct pairing. Root hairs are part of the dermal tissue system, guard cells are part of the epidermal tissue system, and companion cells are part of the vascular tissue system.

Question 5

Which of the following cells transport sugars over long distances?

Accepted Answer

Sieve-tube elements are the specialized cells that form the phloem tissue responsible for transporting sugars over long distances in plants. Parenchyma cells are unspecialized cells that play various roles such as storage and photosynthesis. Sclerenchyma cells provide mechanical support to plants. Tracheids and vessel elements are responsible for water transport and form the xylem tissue in plants.

Question 6

Which of the following arise, directly or indirectly, from meristematic activity?

Accepted Answer

Meristematic activity is responsible for the growth and development of all plant tissues, including secondary xylem, leaves, and dermal tissue. Tubers, which are specialized underground storage structures, can also arise from meristematic activity in certain plant species.

Question 7

Which part of a plant absorbs most of the water and minerals taken up from the soil?

Accepted Answer

Root hairs are the thin, finger-like projections on the surface of young roots. They greatly increase the surface area of the root and are the site where most of the water and minerals are absorbed from the soil.

Question 8

Which of the following cell types retains the ability to undergo cell division?

Accepted Answer

Parenchyma cells are commonly involved in cell division and have the potential to differentiate into other cell types in plants. The other cell types listed (functional sieve tube element, tracheid, stem fiber) are all derived from meristematic cells and have lost their ability to divide.

Question 9

Plant meristematic cells ________.

Accepted Answer

Meristematic cells are undifferentiated cells that are responsible for the production of new cells in plants. They are found mainly at the tips of the roots and shoots, as well as in other parts of the plant such as the cambium and the pericycle.

Question 10

Leaf thickness represents a trade-off between ________.

Accepted Answer

Leaf thickness is a trade-off between water retention and carbon dioxide absorption because thicker leaves can store more water but may limit the surface area available for gas exchange, including carbon dioxide absorption.

Question 11

Strawberries have modified horizontal shoots growing along the surface, which are referred to as ________.

Accepted Answer

The modified horizontal shoots on strawberries are called stolons, which are also referred to as runners. Rhizomes are underground stems and tubers are swollen underground plant structures, both of which do not apply to strawberries. Rhizoids are small, hair-like structures that assist in anchoring some plants to a surface, but they are not present in strawberries.

Question 12

Which of the following is correctly paired with its structure and function?

Accepted Answer

Sclerenchyma cells are specialized plant cells with thick secondary walls that provide structural support to the plant.

Option B is incorrect because the ground meristem is a type of tissue responsible for producing the ground tissue system, which includes parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma cells. It does not form a protective coat in woody stems and roots.

Option C is incorrect because guard cells are specialized cells that regulate the opening and closing of stomata in plant leaves, and they are not found in roots.

Option D is incorrect because the periderm is a dermal tissue that replaces the epidermis in older roots and stems of woody plants, and it consists of cork, cork cambium, and phelloderm. It does not contain parenchyma cells that function in photosynthesis.

Question 13

The vascular bundle in the shape of a single central cylinder in a root is called the ________.

Accepted Answer

The vascular bundle in the shape of a single central cylinder in a root is called the stele. The cortex is the region of root or stem between the epidermis and the vascular bundles. The periderm is a protective tissue that replaces the epidermis in older roots and stems. The pith is the central region inside the stem or root.

Question 14

Some of the largest leaves in the world can be found on plants near the floor of dense tropical rain forests. Which of the following precursors for photosynthesis is most likely limited in these large leaves?

Accepted Answer

In dense tropical rain forests, the forest canopy blocks much of the sunlight from reaching the forest floor, making light the most likely limited precursor for photosynthesis in large leaves.

Question 15

Onion leaves have been modified for the purpose of ________.

Accepted Answer

Onion leaves are modified for storage, as they store nutrients and water to support the plant's growth.

Question 16

Which of the following plants are annuals?

Accepted Answer

Wheat is an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, from seed germination to seed production, and then dies. Azaleas, roses, and blueberries are not annuals, they are typically perennials or shrubs.

Question 17

An axillary bud in the stem can potentially form a ________ in a variety of plants based on evolutionary adaptations.

Accepted Answer

An axillary bud in the stem can potentially form a lateral branch, thorn, or flower based on evolutionary adaptations. Lateral branches help in increasing the plant's surface area and allow for more leaves to be exposed to sunlight. Thorns are evolutionary adaptations that help in defense against herbivores. Flowers are reproductive structures that help in pollination and seed formation, leading to the continuation of the plant's species. Thus, option D is the correct answer as all three evolutionary adaptations can potentially arise from the axillary bud.

Question 18

One important difference between the anatomy of roots and the anatomy of leaves is that ________.

Accepted Answer

A waxy cuticle covers the leaves to prevent water loss through transpiration but is absent in roots to allow for water uptake through the epidermis. The other options given are incorrect. Xylem and phloem are present in both roots and leaves. Both root and leaf cells have cell walls. Vascular tissue is found in both roots and leaves. Both roots and leaves have epidermal tissue.

Question 19

When you eat Brussels sprouts, you are eating ________.

Accepted Answer

Brussels sprouts are large axillary buds that grow along the stem of the plant.

Question 20

________ is a relatively indigestible strengthening polymer that accounts for more than a quarter of the dry mass of wood.

Accepted Answer

Lignin is a polymer that provides structural support to the plant cell walls, making them rigid and woody. It is indigestible by most organisms and makes up a significant portion of the dry weight of wood. Cellulose and starch are also important components of plant cell walls, but they do not account for as much of the dry mass of wood as lignin does.

Quiz 35: Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development