Question

A few students, while walking in a garden next to a busy main road, observed a layer of dust on the surface of the leaves in the garden.
How do you think can the dust layer present on the surface of leaf affect the process of photosynthesis?

• A. It interferes with the gaseous exchange process.
• B. It interferes with the absorption of light by leaves.
• C. It reduces the chlorophyll content in the leaf.
• D. It decreases the temperature of the leaf.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

The correct options are
A It interferes with the gaseous exchange process.
B It interferes with the absorption of light by leaves.

Plant produce their own food in the form of glucose by utilising carbon dioxide (from air) and water (from soil) in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll (in leaves) by the process of photosynthesis. Leaves covered with dust receive less light for photosynthesis and the gas exchange between the leaf and air is disturbed, thus resulting in a reduction in the yield of glucose.