Question

Given below are two statements, one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other one is labeled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : The seeds of wild-type soybean (Glycine soja) lives longer than the seeds of cultivated type (G. max L.)
Reason (R) : The wild-type soybean (Glycine soja) seeds are small, black, and have an impermeable seed coat with very little content of oil that might enhance the seed longevity.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct.
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct.

Hint:

To understand seed deterioration: High-oil seeds (like cultivated soybean) age very quickly because their lipids undergo oxidation, generating toxic peroxides that destroy embryo cell membranes. Low-oil, hard-seeded wild varieties are protected from this deterioration.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Seed longevity is the duration for which seeds remain viable during storage.
It is governed by genetic factors, seed coat permeability, moisture levels, chemical composition (especially oil content), and environmental storage conditions.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the Assertion and the Reason:
- Assertion (A) is correct: The wild-type soybean (*Glycine soja*) exhibits exceptionally high seed longevity, maintaining viability in soil or storage for many years.
In contrast, cultivated soybean (*Glycine max*) has notoriously poor seed longevity, losing viability rapidly within a single season of ambient storage.
- Reason (R) is correct: The physical and chemical traits of the wild-type seed directly explain this superior longevity.
The seeds of *G. soja* are small and black, and they possess a highly rigid, impermeable seed coat (hard seed dormancy) that prevents the absorption of moisture and oxygen, slowing down physiological aging and decay.
Additionally, wild soybean seeds contain very low oil content compared to cultivated types.
Cultivated soybeans have been bred for high oil content, making them highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation and free-radical rancidity, which rapidly destroys embryo viability.
- Analysis of Explanation: The physical and biochemical traits of the wild soybean seed (such as its impermeable coat and low oil content, as stated in the Reason) are the direct causes of its superior storage life (as stated in the Assertion).
Therefore, Both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Step 3: Final Answer:
Both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).