Assertion :Aerenchyma is present in the leaves and petioles of hydrophytes.
Reason: Aerenchyma imparts buoyancy to the hydrophytes.
Plants which remain
permanently immersed in water are called hydrophytes. They may be
submerged or partly submerged and show the presence of aerenchyma
(large air space) in the leaves and petioles. Aerenchyma helps to
transport oxygen produced during photosynthesis and permits its free
diffusion to other parts, including roots located in anaerobic soils.
These tissues also impart buoyancy to the plants. Presence of
inflated petioles in Eichhornia (water hyacinth) keeps the
plants floating on the surface of water. So, the correct answer is 'Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion'.