Question

Lenticels are involved in
A) Transpiration
B) Gaseous exchange
C) Food transport
D) Photosynthesis

Answer 1

Lenticels are porous tissues which contain cells with large intercellular spaces. They are small pores, scattered all over the barks and are found in all the trees.

Complete answer:
The name lenticel is derived from its lenticular (lens-like) shape. Let us analyse the options to find the correct answer.
Option a) Transpiration - It is the biological process by which water is lost in the form of water vapour, from the aerial parts of the plants. Like other living organisms, plants too require an excretory system to discharge the excess water from their body. It is basically the evaporation of water from the surface of the leaves.Thus, this is the incorrect option.
Opinion b) : Gaseous exchange - Plants require oxygen to respire, thus giving out carbon dioxide in return. Plants don’t possess any specialized structures for exchange of gases. But they possess stomata (found in leaves) and lenticels (found in stems) which are actively involved in their gaseous exchange; unlike humans and animals.Thus, this is the Correct option.
Option c) : Food transport - Transportation is the process that involves the movement of water and necessary nutrients to all parts of the plant for its survival. Plants contain a vast network of conduits which consist of xylem and phloem. This is more like the human circulatory system, that transports blood throughout the human body.Thus, this is the incorrect option.
Option d) : Photosynthesis - Photosynthesis is a process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. At the cellular level, this process takes place in cell organelles called chloroplasts, through photosynthetic pigments like, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, carotene and xanthophyll.Thus, this is the incorrect option.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: Respiration or the exchange of gases takes place through lenticels, in the hard and woody stems and barks.
Photosynthesis also takes place in other living organisms, other than green plants; like several prokaryotes - purple bacteria, cyanobacteria and green sulfur bacteria.