Question

Which of the following food products contain carbohydrates mainly in the form of starch ?
(A) Apple
(B) Wheat
(C) Rice
(D) Potato
(E) Orange

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• B. (A), (B) and (E) only.
• C. (A), (B), (C) and (E).
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

Starch is a complex carbohydrate composed of glucose units. Cereals and underground tubers are the primary dietary sources of starch, whereas fruits are rich in simple reducing and non-reducing sugars.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Carbohydrates are biomolecules divided into simple sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides like starch).
Different food sources contain different ratios of these carbohydrates depending on their physiological function in the plant.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us examine the primary carbohydrate composition of the listed food products:
1. Starch-dominant foods:
- Wheat (B) and Rice (C) are cereal grains that store solar energy primarily as starch within their endosperm.
- Potato (D) is a modified stem tuber that serves as the plant's primary energy storage organ, containing high amounts of starch (specifically amylose and amylopectin).
Therefore, Wheat, Rice, and Potato contain carbohydrates primarily in the form of starch.
2. Simple sugar-dominant foods:
- Apple (A) and Orange (E) are fleshy fruits. Their carbohydrates are stored mainly as simple sugars (such as fructose, glucose, and sucrose) and soluble dietary fibers (like pectin), which give them their characteristic sweet taste. They contain very little starch.
Therefore, options (B), (C), and (D) are the correct choices.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (B), (C), and (D) only, corresponding to option (D).