Question

A gardener notices that some of her green plants are experiencing the
following changes during the middle of summer:
• Brown or yellow discoloration in the leaves
• Reduced leaf size
How will these changes most likely affect the plants?
A. The plants will make fewer nutrients because of chlorophyll loss.
B. The plants will increase the number of chloroplasts in their cells.
C. The plants will grow more roots in search of water.
D. The plants will decrease their reliance on the sun's energy.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The plants will make fewer nutrients because of chlorophyll loss.

Explanation:

The surface of the leaf is lined with chloroplasts.

Since the leaf sizes have been reduced, chloroplasts have followed. Thus, there are less chlorophyll pigments, indicating less chances of photosynthesis, meaning fewer nutrients made.

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer is option A- the plants will make fewer nutrients because of chlorophyll loss.

Explanation:

Summer is experienced with high temperature and high intensity of light which shows effects on the plant.  

Exposure to high temperature and high light intensity above threshold cause several physiological and morphological changes in the plants like affect the chlorophyll. Chlorophyll gets degraded by a process called " chlorosis" due to which brown and yellow patches start appearing on the leaves.

The chlorophyll loss leads to less production of glucose molecule as the sunlight is not captured by the chlorophyll, a pre-requisite condition of the photosynthesis.

Thus, option- A is the correct option.