Question

1. If you were to have a starch-rich diet, which plants and their parts, would you use? Give 3 examples, and justify each.
2. Name 3 plants belonging to the mustard family [Brassicaceae]. Mention how we use them.
3. Name 3 plants belonging to the carrot family [Apiaceae]. Mention how we use them.
4. Besides peppers, which other important crop comes from the nightshade family [Solanaceae}? Mention 3 facts about it.

Answer 1

1.

Plants generally store starch in the leaves, excess sugar from photosynthesis is transformed as starch. Depends on the species of plant, time of the year starch is also stored in root tubers, modified stem(rhizome, bulbs), seeds, fruits.

Examples- Leaves - starch granules in vacuoles;

Root tubers - In potato

Seeds and fruits - store for future purposes.

2.

Uses of Brassicaceae family plants -

i. Arabidopsis thaliana - widely used as a model organism in molecular biology, developmental biology of flowering plants.

ii.Brassica napus(rapeseed oil), Brassica nigra, Brassica juncea - used for vegetable oil production.

iii. Brassica oleracea var. botrytis(cauliflower), Brassica oleracea var. capitata(cabbage) - used as vegetables.

3.

Uses of Apiaceae family -

i. Daucus carota, Petroselinum crispum - used as a food source.

ii. Coriandrum sativum - produce some essential oil.

ii. Ferula sumbul - the source of incense.

4.

Solanaceae family-

i. Tomato, potato, eggplant - used as food.

ii. Datura, Atropa - used for medicinal purposes.

iii. Tobacco, petunia - used as model organisms.