Question

Carbohydrates are commonly found as starch in plant storage organs. Which of the following five properties of starch (a-e) make it useful as a storage material?

(a) Easily translocated

(b) Chemically less reactive

(c) Easily digested by animals

(d) Osmotically inactive

(e) Synthesized during photosynthesis

The useful properties are

• A. (a), (c) and (e)
• B. (a) and (e)
• C. (b) and (c)
• D. (b) and (d)

Answer 1

The correct option is D (b) and (d)

Green plants produce carbohydrates in the form of monosaccharide sugars like glucose and fructose. The carbohydrates are translocated in the form of disaccharide sucrose. Carbohydrates are stored in the form of starch in tubers and other storage organs like fruits and seeds. Starch is osmotically inactive. Hence, storage of starch does not alters the water potential in cell sap. Further, starch is a polysaccharide and is chemically less reactive as compared to monosaccharide forms. These two properties are the most important reason for selecting starch as storage polysaccharide by plants.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.