Question

Which of the following after absorption is stored in the form of phytin or phytic acids in vegetative tissues and seeds?
A.Nitrogen
B.Phosphorus
C.Sulphur
D.Potassium

Answer 1

Phytin is defined as calcium magnesium salt of phytic acid. Phytic acid is an ester of inositol which is also known as inositol polyphosphate. It is majorly stored in seeds of many plants.

Complete answer: Phytic acid is known to be the major fiber associated component of wheat bran and many legume plants. Phytic acid is the major provider or may be defined as the storage form of phosphorus mainly in seeds, it stores phosphorus in vacuoles of the seeds and many vegetative tissues of majorly in wheat bran. Phytic acid is known as the major storage form of phosphorus in many of the plant vegetative tissues and also in the outer kernel of the wheat bran. Phosphorus in phytic acid is not available to non-ruminants as they lack a major enzyme required for the hydrolysis of inositol linkages in phytic acid. The digestive enzyme is phytase. But in the case of the ruminants such as cattle, buffalo they have this enzyme to hydrolyze the phytic acid, the enzyme is produced by microorganisms present in the rumen of the ruminants. Phytic acid and phytin are known to inhibit the absorption of many dietary minerals, calcium ions, iron, and zinc as they have a great binding affinity with these elements. Phytic acid besides a phosphorus provider acts as an antioxidant. It has several advantages and disadvantages.
So, the correct answer to this question is the option"B" phosphorus because physic acid is a polymer of phosphorus storing a large amount of phosphorus.

Note: Though phytin is indigestible for many animals, phytic acid occurring in seeds, vegetative tissues, and bran has several functions including energy storage, as an important source of Myo-inositol which is known to be the precursor of the cell wall and most importantly as described function of storage of phosphorus.