Mineral Nutrition

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Question
CBSEENBI11002408

An element playing important role in nitrogen fixation is 

  • Molybdenum

  • copper

  • manganese

  • zinc

Solution

A.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum is absorbed as molybdate by plants. It is involved in nitrogen metabolism including nitrogen fixation. It is a component of enzyme nitrogenase and acts as an enzyme activator. Its deficiency cause chlorosis and necrosis, whiptail of cauliflower and premature leaf fall. 
Copper is absorbed by the plant in ionic form. Its deficiency causes necrosis, die back in Citrus, reclamation in legumes.
Manganese is absorbed by the plants as a bivalent ion. It acts as the enzyme activator. Its deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis as well as yellowing of starch and their subsequent degenerate. 
Zinc is needed for biosynthesis of IAA and also acts as the enzyme activator. Its deficiency causes chlorosis, little leaf, rosette, the white bud of maize and mottling of leaves.

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Question
CBSEENBI11002188

Best defined function of manganese in green plants is

  • Photolysis of water

  • Calvin cycle

  • Nitrogen fixation

  • Water absorption

Solution

A.

Photolysis of water

Photolysis of water requires light energy, an Oxygen-Evolving Complex (OEC) and electron carrier 1/2. OEC complex was formerly called Z-enzyme. It has four Mn ions. Light energy brings about changes in Mn (Mn+2,  Mn3+,  Mn+4) which helps in removing electrons from OH- component of water forming oxygen. Liberation of oxygen also requires Cl- and Ca+2.

Question
CBSEENBI11002190

Consumption of which one of the following foods can prevent the kind of blindness associated with vitamin ‘A’ deficiency?

  • ‘Flaver Savr’ tomato

  • Canolla

  • Golden rice

  • Bt-Brinjal

Solution

C.

Golden rice

Golden rice is a variety of Oryza sativa (rice) produced through genetic engineering to biosynthesize Beta-acetone, a precursor of vitamin-A in the edible part of rice (i.e., endosperm). The research that led golden rice was conducted with the goal of helping children who suffer from vitamin-A deficiency. Because many children in countries where there is a dietary deficiency in vitamin-A rely on rice as a staple food, the genetic modification of rice to produce the vitamin-A precursor beta-carotene is seen as a simple and less expensive alternative to vitamin supplements. 

Question
CBSEENBI11002129

During biological nitrogen fixation inactivation of nitrogenase by oxygen poisoning is prevented by

  • Leghaemogolobin

  • Xanthophyll

  • Carotene

  • Cytochrome

Solution

A.

Leghaemogolobin

During biological nitrogen fixation, inactivation of nitrogenase  by oxygen poisioning is prevented by leghaemoglobin.
It is a  red-pigment that is filled outside the peribacteroid space in the cytosol of nodule cells. It has the ability to combine very rapidly with oxygen and thus acts a very efficient O2 scavenger. 

Question
CBSEENBI11002634

Examination of blood of a person suspected of having anaemia, shows large, immature, nucleated erythrocytes without haemoglobin. Supplementing his diet with which of the following is likely to alleviate his symptoms?

  • Thiamine

  • Folic acid and cobalamine

  • Riboflavin

  • Iron compounds

Solution

D.

Iron compounds

Anaemia refers to any condition in which there is an abnormally low haemoglobin concentration and/or blood cell count. The most common cause is deficiency of iron which is an essential element of haemoglobin molecule.
Thus, the iron compounds in the diet will help to alleviate the symptoms of anaemia.
Thiamine (vitamin B1), deficiency causes beri-beri.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency causes cheilosis and skin diseases.