Question

Which plant product is the hardest?

• A. Suberin
• B. Lignin
• C. Sporopollenin
• D. Cutin

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Sporopollenin

• Suberin is constituent of cork tissues. It is a waxy substance.

• Lignin is constituent of cell walls. It is an organic polymer.

• Sporopollenin is the most resistant known biological material which is found in the exine of the pollen grains. It is resistant to chemical and microbial decomposition. Due to this, pollen grains are well preserved during fossilization. The exact composition of sporopollenin is not known but analyses and studies have revealed that it is compose of long chain fatty acids along with some other biopolymers like phenolics and carotenoids.

• Cutin is component of plant cuticle. It is an ester of fatty acids.

Thus, the hardest plant material is sporopollenin. So, the correct answer is C.