Question

Which is the plant with edible root?
a. Carrot
b. Tapioca
c. Turnip
d. All of the above

Answer 1

Plants have roots specialized for the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. They also serve the function of anchorage. But in some plants, the roots are specialized for a variety of functions. They can act as storage organs and thus become edible or in some cases, they help in the exchange of gases.

Step by step answer: The plant with edible roots includes Carrot, Tapioca, Turnip. So, all of the above options are correct which makes option (D) correct. These are known as vegetable roots.
• Root vegetables act as storage organs as they store energy in the form of carbohydrates.
• Root vegetables are defined as underground plant parts that are eaten by humans as food products.
• They also store other saccharides but they differ in the concentration among starches, sugars, and other types of carbohydrates.
• The ones with most economic importance are those with a high carbohydrate concentration in the
form of starch.
• These types of root vegetables are considered as important staple foods, particularly in tropical regions.
• The modified roots are swollen and assume different forms such as spindle-shaped, eg- Radish, Carrot; top shaped like- eg- Turnip; Cone like- eg- Tapioca (derived from cone-like cassava plant).
• Thus, all of the above-given examples are correct.

Note: There are other modifications seen in roots. These areas under-
• Nodulated roots- These are swollen nodules and are formed as a result of a symbiotic association
of Rhizobium and help in nitrogen fixation. The examples include Pea plant.
• Mechanical Support- Prop root of the Banyan tree provides mechanical support.
• Respiration- Pneumatophores (peg-like structure with numerous pores through which air passes)
are present in mangroves for gaseous exchange.