Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify a plant whose seeds retain the endosperm as a primary food storage tissue upon maturity. This involves distinguishing between endospermous (albuminous) and non-endospermous (exalbuminous) seeds.
Detailed Explanation:
• Basics of Seed Storage:
During seed development, the primary endosperm nucleus divides to form endosperm, which provides nourishment to the developing embryo.
In many plants, particularly dicots, the embryo consumes the endosperm completely before the seed matures. In such cases, the food is instead stored in the cotyledons. These are called non-endospermous seeds.
In other plants, the endosperm persists in the mature seed and serves as the main storage tissue. These are called endospermous seeds.
• Analyzing the Options:
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea): A legume (dicot). Its seeds are non-endospermous; the food is stored in two thick, fleshy cotyledons.
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum): Another legume. Like groundnut, it has non-endospermous seeds where the endosperm is absorbed during development.
Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan): Also a legume with non-endospermous seeds.
Castor (Ricinus communis): Although it is a dicot, castor is a notable exception. Its seeds are endospermous. The endosperm is a massive, oily tissue that surrounds the embryo and provides the necessary energy for germination.
• Conclusion:
While most dicots have non-endospermous seeds, castor is a classic example of a dicot with albuminous (endospermous) seeds.
Step 2: Final Answer:
Among the given options, Castor is the only plant that has endosperm as its primary storage structure in the seed.