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If the bark and phloem tissue of a woody shoot are peeled off by ringing, the whole ...

If the bark and phloem tissue of a woody shoot are peeled off by ringing, the whole plant will die eventually die because?
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  • A Water does not reach the leaves
  • B Water and salts remained below the ring portion
  • C There is a withdrawal of water from the root by soil
  • D Manufactured food does not reach the roots
  • E The roots store too much water
Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation:
The correct answer is D: manufactured food does not reach the roots.

Explanation:
When the bark and phloem tissue of a woody shoot are peeled off by a process called ringing, the phloem, which is responsible for transporting the products of photosynthesis (mainly sugars and other manufactured foods) from the leaves to the roots and other parts of the plant, is damaged. As a result, the manufactured food cannot reach the roots. Without this supply of nutrients, the roots will eventually die because they will not have the necessary energy to survive.

Here’s why the other options are incorrect:
- A. Water does not reach the leaves: Water is transported through the xylem, not the phloem, so the loss of phloem does not prevent water from reaching the leaves.
- B. Water and salts remain below the ring portion: While water and salts are transported through the xylem, the ringing affects the phloem and thus doesn't directly interfere with the movement of water and salts.
- C. There is a withdrawal of water from the root by soil: The soil does not "withdraw" water from the root. The roots take up water from the soil through osmosis, and this is not directly affected by the removal of phloem.
- E. The roots store too much water: The roots do not store excessive amounts of water in a way that would cause the plant to die. The primary issue is the lack of nutrients being delivered from the leaves to the roots.

Thus, the main reason the plant eventually dies is because the manufactured food (sugars) cannot reach the roots, leading to their eventual starvation.

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