Question

What features of an element is not required to prove it to be essential?

• A. Plants cannot complete vegetative and reproductive cycle without it.
• B. It can not be substituted by another element.
• C. It directly participates in metabolism.
• D. It is found in all tissues of plants.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

It is found in all tissues of plants.

Plants absorb a number of minerals. All of which is not essential for the normal growth and reproduction of plants. Hence, it is important to devise criteria of essentiality. The essential minerals are those, which are absolutely required for normal growth and reproduction and in the absence of which the plant cannot set seed. The essential mineral cannot be substituted by any other mineral. The mineral is essential if it is directly involved in the metabolism of the plant. The essential mineral may not be present in all the plant tissue. All minerals are not present in all the tissues and mineral distribution within the plant body depends on the physiological requirements of plant tissue.

so, the correct answer is 'It is found in all tissues of plants.'