Question

Which of following tissues do you expect to be the most important during droughts and why?

• A. Vascular tissue because phloem regulates water supply to the plant
• B. Ground tissue because water can be stored in sclerenchyma for use during drought
• C. Epidermal tissue because it is covered with a waxy cuticle and also bears drought responsive stomata
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C Epidermal tissue because it is covered with a waxy cuticle and also bears drought responsive stomata

The epidermis is the outermost cellular layer which covers the whole plant structure, i.e. it covers roots, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit. It is composed of a single layer of living cells. The outer walls, which are exposed to the atmosphere and usually thickened, are covered by a waxy, waterproof cuticle which is made up of cutin. The waxy cuticle prevents the loss of moisture from the leaves and stems. During drought, the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) triggers stomatal closure, thus reducing water loss.

So, the correct answer is option C.