Question:

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other one labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : Sweet potato plants will not flower when the light period exceeds the critical photoperiod.
Reason (R) : Sweet potato is propagated using vine cuttings.
In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

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To check if the Reason (R) explains Assertion (A), read them together using "because":
"Sweet potato will not flower under long days BECAUSE sweet potato is propagated by vine cuttings."
This statement does not make logical sense, indicating that both are true independent facts.
  • Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
  • Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
  • (A) is correct but (R) is not correct.
  • (A) is not correct but (R) is correct.
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Photoperiodism refers to the developmental responses of plants to the relative lengths of light and dark periods.
Plant propagation, on the other hand, is the process of reproducing plants sexually or vegetatively for commercial cultivation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us evaluate both statements individually:
Assertion (A): Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is classified as a obligate short-day plant (SDP).
Short-day plants require a photoperiod that is shorter than a specific critical day length to transition from vegetative growth to flowering.
If the daily light period exceeds this critical photoperiod, sweet potato plants will remain vegetative and will fail to initiate flower buds.
Thus, Assertion (A) is correct.
Reason (R): Sweet potato is commercially and traditionally propagated using vegetative vine cuttings (slips).
This method is used because it preserves the genetic clones of the parent line, ensures uniform growth, and bypasses the difficulties associated with poor seed set in sweet potato.
Thus, Reason (R) is correct.
However, the commercial propagation of sweet potato using vegetative vine cuttings does not physiologically explain why its flowering is governed by short-day photoperiodic responses.
Therefore, both statements are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Step 3: Final Answer:

Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
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