What does etiolation mean?a)Leaves become yellow due to the reduced li...
The correct option is D) In the absence of light or greatly reduced light, leaves become yellow due to the breaking down of the chlorophyll.
Etiolation is the process by which a plant grows tall and spindly with elongated internodes (the stem space between two leaves) and small, pale leaves, as a result of inadequate light. This is a response to low light intensity, where the plant is trying to reach the light source. Due to the lack of light, the chlorophyll breaks down and the leaves appear yellow. Etiolation causes the plant to be weak and spindly, and will not be able to photosynthesize properly, resulting in poor growth and development.
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What does etiolation mean?a)Leaves become yellow due to the reduced li...
The correct answer to the question is option 'D': In the absence of light or greatly reduced light, leaves become yellow due to the breaking down of the chlorophyll. Etiolation refers to the process by which a plant's growth is altered in response to reduced or no light. Let's explore this concept in more detail.
Explanation:
1. What is etiolation?
- Etiolation is a phenomenon that occurs when plants are deprived of sufficient light. It is a survival mechanism that enables plants to redirect their energy towards elongating their stems and reaching for more light.
- When a plant is etiolated, its growth is characterized by pale, elongated stems, small or nonexistent leaves, and reduced chlorophyll content.
2. Effect of reduced light on leaves:
- Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for the green color in plants and is essential for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
- In the absence or greatly reduced light, the plant's ability to photosynthesize is compromised, leading to a breakdown of chlorophyll.
- As a result, the leaves lose their green color and turn yellow.
3. The role of chlorophyll breakdown:
- Chlorophyll breakdown occurs when the plant cannot produce enough energy through photosynthesis due to reduced light availability.
- The chlorophyll molecules in the leaves start to break down, resulting in the loss of their green coloration.
- This breakdown process also leads to the formation of other pigments, such as carotenoids, which are responsible for the yellow color observed in etiolated leaves.
4. Other changes during etiolation:
- Apart from yellowing of the leaves, etiolated plants exhibit other physical changes.
- The stems of etiolated plants grow taller and thinner as they elongate in an attempt to reach more light.
- The leaves may be smaller or non-existent, as the plant directs its resources towards stem elongation rather than leaf development.
In conclusion, etiolation is a plant's response to reduced or no light. During etiolation, leaves become yellow due to the breakdown of chlorophyll, which is caused by the plant's inability to carry out sufficient photosynthesis.
What does etiolation mean?a)Leaves become yellow due to the reduced li...
- Etiolation is a term used to describe the process that occurs when plants are grown in the absence of light or with greatly reduced light.
- When plants do not receive sufficient light, especially sunlight, they undergo certain changes to adapt to the low-light conditions. One of these changes is the yellowing of leaves.
- Leaves contain a pigment called chlorophyll, which is responsible for the green color and plays a vital role in photosynthesis, the process by which plants make their food.
- In the absence or reduction of light, the plant cannot produce sufficient energy through photosynthesis. As a result, chlorophyll breaks down, and the green color fades away. This leads to the yellowing of leaves.
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