Question

Identify the crop with correct matching.
A. Sugarcane: Kranz anatomy
B. Pineapple: C4 plant
C. Mulberry: C3 plant
D. Sunflower: C3 plant
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, C and D only
• B. A, B and D only
• C. A and B only
• D. B and D only

Hint:

Remember that most succulent, tropical monocots (like pineapple, agave, and vanilla) are CAM plants, while tropical grasses (like sugarcane, maize, and sorghum) are C4 plants.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Horticultural and agronomic crops are classified into C3, C4, and CAM groups based on their primary carbon fixation pathways, distinct anatomical adaptations, and environmental tolerances.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each crop and its physiological classification:
- A. Sugarcane: Kranz anatomy (Correct): Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a C4 grass. C4 leaves exhibit "Kranz" (German for crown/wreath) anatomy, characterized by a ring of large bundle sheath cells containing specialized chloroplasts surrounded by mesophyll cells.
- B. Pineapple: C4 plant (Incorrect): Pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plant, not a C4 plant. It opens its stomata at night to minimize water loss in tropical arid environments.
- C. Mulberry: C3 plant (Correct): Mulberry (Morus spp.) is a deciduous woody perennial tree that utilizes the standard C3 Calvin-Benson cycle for carbon fixation.
- D. Sunflower: C3 plant (Correct): Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a temperate herbaceous dicot that utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway.
Thus, only statements A, C, and D are correct.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (A).