Question

Assertion :Most orchid seedlings cannot develop well in the absence of fungal mycelium. Reason: Fungal mycelium increases efficiency of absorption only.

• A. If both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
• B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
• C. If assertion is true but reason is false.
• D. If both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

The correct option is C If assertion is true but reason is false.

Yes, it is true that orchids cannot grow well in the absence of fungal mycelium. So the assertion is true. A fungal mycelium grows with the orchid seeds, which enters into its roots. Most of the plants have the capacity to store their nutrition. But orchids lack this capacity. Thus, the mycelium increases the nutritional storage capacity and also converts its nutrition into absorbable forms. Thus, they grow in soil having natural mycelium. So, we can say that they have symbiotic means of germination.

Therefore, the statement in the reason is not true, as mycelium does not increase the absorption, stores its nutrition and converts it into usable forms.