Question

Plants use variety of techniques to get rid of their waste materials. Some are mentioned below. Identify the incorrect one:

• A. Excess water is given out by transpiration.
• B. Gums and Resins are wastes that are stored.
• C. Roots secrete some wastes into the soil.
• D. Flowers can store some waste products.

Hint:

Plant waste disposal methods:

• Transpiration \(\Rightarrow\) Excess water
• Storage in bark/leaves \(\Rightarrow\) Gums, resins, tannins
• Root secretion \(\Rightarrow\) Some metabolic wastes
• Shedding of leaves/bark \(\Rightarrow\) Removes accumulated wastes

Flowers are reproductive organs, not waste storage sites!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understand waste disposal mechanisms in plants.
Plants do not have specialized excretory organs like animals. They use various methods to remove or store waste products:

• Transpiration: Excess water is removed through stomata as water vapor.
• Storage: Some waste products like gums, resins, tannins, and latex are stored in dead cells, bark, leaves, or other parts that eventually fall off.
• Secretion: Some wastes are secreted through roots into the soil.
• Shedding: Plants shed leaves, bark, and fruits containing accumulated wastes.

Step 2: Analyze each statement.

• (A) Excess water is given out by transpiration: Correct. Transpiration is the process by which plants lose excess water vapor through stomata.
• (B) Gums and Resins are wastes that are stored: Correct. Plants store waste products like gums, resins, tannins, and alkaloids in various parts such as bark, leaves, or specialized cells.
• (C) Roots secrete some wastes into the soil: Correct. Some plants secrete metabolic wastes through their roots into the surrounding soil.
• (D) Flowers can store some waste products: Incorrect. Flowers are reproductive structures and are generally not used for waste storage. Waste products are typically stored in non-essential parts like bark, old leaves, or fruits that will be shed. Flowers are delicate structures involved in reproduction and pollination, not waste accumulation.

Step 3: Conclusion.
Statement (D) is incorrect because flowers are not used for storing waste products. Waste storage occurs in older leaves, bark, resins, gums, and other non-essential parts. Final Answer: (D) Flowers can store some waste products.