Question 1

The specific relationship between a legume and its mutualistic Rhizobium strain probably depends on

Accepted Answer

A)  each legume having a chemical dialogue with a fungus. 
B)  each Rhizobium strain having a form of nitrogenase that works only in the appropriate legume host. 
C)  each legume being found where the soil has only the Rhizobium specific to that legume. 
D)  specific recognition between the chemical signals and signal receptors of the Rhizobium strain and legume species. 
E)  destruction of all incompatible Rhizobium strains by enzymes secreted from the legume's roots. 
A)  each legume having a chemical dialogue with a fungus. 
B)  each Rhizobium strain having a form of nitrogenase that works only in the appropriate legume host. 
C)  each legume being found where the soil has only the Rhizobium specific to that legume. 
D)  specific recognition between the chemical signals and signal receptors of the Rhizobium strain and legume species. 
E)  destruction of all incompatible Rhizobium strains by enzymes secreted from the legume's roots.

Question 2

In west Texas, cotton has become an important crop in the last several decades. However, in this hot, dry part of the country there is little rainfall, so farmers irrigate their cotton fields. They must also regularly fertilize the cotton fields because the soil is very sandy. Figure 37.2 shows the record of annual productivity (measured in kilograms of cotton per hectare of land) since 1960 in a west Texas cotton field. Use these data to answer the following questions.
   
Figure 37.2
-Based on the information provided in Figure 37.2, what is the most likely cause of the decline in productivity?

Accepted Answer

A)  The farmer used the wrong kind of fertilizer. 
B)  The cotton is developing a resistance to the fertilizer and to irrigation water. 
C)  Water has accumulated in the soil due to irrigation. 
D)  The soil water potential has become more negative due to salination. 
E)  The rate of photosynthesis has declined due to irrigation. 
A)  The farmer used the wrong kind of fertilizer. 
B)  The cotton is developing a resistance to the fertilizer and to irrigation water. 
C)  Water has accumulated in the soil due to irrigation. 
D)  The soil water potential has become more negative due to salination. 
E)  The rate of photosynthesis has declined due to irrigation.

Question 3

A corn (Zea mays)mutant is developed that is deficient in magnesium uptake. The most likely phenotypic expression would be

Accepted Answer

A)  chlorosis, especially in the older leaves. 
B)  a purple tinge to actively growing shoots. 
C)  severely stunted root growth and branching. 
D)  a reduction in leaf surface area. 
E)  a delay in flowering. 
A)  chlorosis, especially in the older leaves. 
B)  a purple tinge to actively growing shoots. 
C)  severely stunted root growth and branching. 
D)  a reduction in leaf surface area. 
E)  a delay in flowering.

Question 4

Why is nitrogen fixation an essential process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nitrogen fixation can only be done by certain prokaryotes. 
B)  Fixed nitrogen is often the limiting factor in plant growth. 
C)  Nitrogen fixation is very expensive in terms of metabolic energy. 
D)  Nitrogen fixers are sometimes symbiotic with legumes. 
E)  Nitrogen-fixing capacity can be genetically engineered. 
A)  Nitrogen fixation can only be done by certain prokaryotes. 
B)  Fixed nitrogen is often the limiting factor in plant growth. 
C)  Nitrogen fixation is very expensive in terms of metabolic energy. 
D)  Nitrogen fixers are sometimes symbiotic with legumes. 
E)  Nitrogen-fixing capacity can be genetically engineered.

Question 5

There are several properties that are characteristic of a soil in which typical plants would grow well. Of the following, which would be the least conducive to plant growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  abundant humus 
B)  numerous soil organisms 
C)  compacted soil 
D)  high porosity 
E)  high cation exchange capacity 
A)  abundant humus 
B)  numerous soil organisms 
C)  compacted soil 
D)  high porosity 
E)  high cation exchange capacity

Question 6

Which of the following elements is incorrectly paired with its function in a plant?

Accepted Answer

A)  nitrogen-component of nucleic acids, proteins, hormones, coenzymes 
B)  magnesium-component of chlorophyll; activates many enzymes 
C)  phosphorus-component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP, several coenzymes 
D)  potassium-cofactor functional in protein synthesis, osmosis, operation of stomata 
E)  sulfur-component of DNA; activates some enzymes 
A)  nitrogen-component of nucleic acids, proteins, hormones, coenzymes 
B)  magnesium-component of chlorophyll; activates many enzymes 
C)  phosphorus-component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP, several coenzymes 
D)  potassium-cofactor functional in protein synthesis, osmosis, operation of stomata 
E)  sulfur-component of DNA; activates some enzymes

Question 7

If an African violet has chlorosis, which of the following elements might be a useful addition to the soil?

Accepted Answer

A)  chlorine 
B)  molybdenum 
C)  copper 
D)  iodine 
E)  magnesium 
A)  chlorine 
B)  molybdenum 
C)  copper 
D)  iodine 
E)  magnesium

Question 8

If you wanted to increase the cation exchange and water retention capacity of loamy soil, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

A)  adjust the soil pH to 7.9 
B)  add clay to the soil 
C)  practice no-till agriculture 
D)  add fertilizer containing potassium, calcium, and magnesium to the soil 
E)  increase the number of sand particles in the soil 
A)  adjust the soil pH to 7.9 
B)  add clay to the soil 
C)  practice no-till agriculture 
D)  add fertilizer containing potassium, calcium, and magnesium to the soil 
E)  increase the number of sand particles in the soil

Question 9

Figure 37.1 shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth.
   
Figure 37.1
-The best explanation for the shape of the growth response curve in Figure 37.1 is that

Accepted Answer

A)  the plant requires air in the soil for photosynthesis. 
B)  the roots are able to absorb more nitrogen (N₂) in high levels of air. 
C)  most of the decrease in weight at low air levels is due to transpiration from the leaves. 
D)  increased soil air produces more root mass in the soil but does not affect the top stems and leaves. 
E)  the roots require oxygen for respiration and growth. 
A)  the plant requires air in the soil for photosynthesis. 
B)  the roots are able to absorb more nitrogen (N₂) in high levels of air. 
C)  most of the decrease in weight at low air levels is due to transpiration from the leaves. 
D)  increased soil air produces more root mass in the soil but does not affect the top stems and leaves. 
E)  the roots require oxygen for respiration and growth.

Question 10

Which of the following is not true of micronutrients in plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are elements required in relatively small amounts. 
B)  They are required for a plant to grow from a seed and complete its life cycle. 
C)  They generally help in catalytic functions in the plant. 
D)  They are the essential elements of small size and molecular weight. 
E)  Deficiencies vary widely by soil type. 
A)  They are elements required in relatively small amounts. 
B)  They are required for a plant to grow from a seed and complete its life cycle. 
C)  They generally help in catalytic functions in the plant. 
D)  They are the essential elements of small size and molecular weight. 
E)  Deficiencies vary widely by soil type.

Question 11

The NPK percentages on a package of fertilizer refer to the

Accepted Answer

A)  total protein content of the three major ingredients of the fertilizer. 
B)  percentages of manure collected from different types of animals. 
C)  relative percentages of organic and inorganic nutrients in the fertilizer. 
D)  percentages of three important mineral nutrients. 
E)  proportions of three different nitrogen sources. 
A)  total protein content of the three major ingredients of the fertilizer. 
B)  percentages of manure collected from different types of animals. 
C)  relative percentages of organic and inorganic nutrients in the fertilizer. 
D)  percentages of three important mineral nutrients. 
E)  proportions of three different nitrogen sources.

Question 12

Which of the following essential nutrients plays an essential role in the opening and closing of the stomatal aperture?

Accepted Answer

A)  Fe 
B)  Bo 
C)  Mg 
D)  H 
E)  K 
A)  Fe 
B)  Bo 
C)  Mg 
D)  H 
E)  K

Question 13

Which of the following elements, if increased in concentration, would increase the stability of cell walls?

Accepted Answer

A)  zinc 
B)  chlorine 
C)  calcium 
D)  molybdenum 
E)  manganese 
A)  zinc 
B)  chlorine 
C)  calcium 
D)  molybdenum 
E)  manganese

Question 14

A researcher analyzes the mineral content of a particular grass and is surprised to find substantial levels of uranium in both leaf and root tissues. The most likely explanation for this finding is that

Accepted Answer

A)  uranium is an essential nutrient for this grass. 
B)  the plant has a mutation in its active transport proteins. 
C)  there is a higher than usual concentration of uranium in the soil. 
D)  uranium is substituting for some other essential nutrient. 
E)  uranium is being supplied by mycorrhizae. 
A)  uranium is an essential nutrient for this grass. 
B)  the plant has a mutation in its active transport proteins. 
C)  there is a higher than usual concentration of uranium in the soil. 
D)  uranium is substituting for some other essential nutrient. 
E)  uranium is being supplied by mycorrhizae.

Question 15

When performing a mineral nutrition experiment, researchers use water from a glass still. Why is it not a good idea to use regular distilled water from a stainless steel still?

Accepted Answer

A)  With a steel still, lime deposits from hard water will build up too quickly. 
B)  Salts in the water corrode steel more quickly than glass. 
C)  Metal ions dissolving off the steel may serve as micronutrients. 
D)  A glass still allows the distillation process to be observed. 
E)  There is no difference; both kinds of stills produce distilled water. 
A)  With a steel still, lime deposits from hard water will build up too quickly. 
B)  Salts in the water corrode steel more quickly than glass. 
C)  Metal ions dissolving off the steel may serve as micronutrients. 
D)  A glass still allows the distillation process to be observed. 
E)  There is no difference; both kinds of stills produce distilled water.

Question 16

You are conducting an experiment on plant growth. You take a plant fresh from the soil that weighs 5 kg. Then you dry the plant overnight and determine the dry weight to be 1 kg. Of this dry weight, how much would you expect to be made up of organic molecules?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 gram 
B)  4 grams 
C)  40 grams 
D)  960 grams 
E)  1 kg 
A)  1 gram 
B)  4 grams 
C)  40 grams 
D)  960 grams 
E)  1 kg

Question 17

The bulk of a plant's dry weight is derived from

Accepted Answer

A)  soil minerals. 
B)  CO₂. 
C)  the hydrogen from H₂O. 
D)  the oxygen from H₂O. 
E)  the uptake of organic nutrients from the soil. 
A)  soil minerals. 
B)  CO₂. 
C)  the hydrogen from H₂O. 
D)  the oxygen from H₂O. 
E)  the uptake of organic nutrients from the soil.

Question 18

Micronutrients are needed in very small amounts because

Accepted Answer

A)  most of them are mobile in the plant. 
B)  most serve mainly as cofactors of enzymes. 
C)  most are supplied in large enough quantities in seeds. 
D)  they play only a minor role in the growth and health of the plant. 
E)  only the most actively growing regions of the plants require micronutrients. 
A)  most of them are mobile in the plant. 
B)  most serve mainly as cofactors of enzymes. 
C)  most are supplied in large enough quantities in seeds. 
D)  they play only a minor role in the growth and health of the plant. 
E)  only the most actively growing regions of the plants require micronutrients.

Question 19

Which of the following is a primary difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae?

Accepted Answer

A)  Endomycorrhizae have thicker, shorter hyphae than ectomycorrhizae. 
B)  Endomycorrhizae, but not ectomycorrhizae, form a dense sheath over the surface of the root. 
C)  Ectomycorrhizae do not penetrate root cells, whereas endomycorrhizae grow into invaginations of the root cell membranes. 
D)  Ectomycorrhizae are found in woody plant species; about 85% of plant families form ectomycorrhizae. 
E)  There are no significant differences between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae. 
A)  Endomycorrhizae have thicker, shorter hyphae than ectomycorrhizae. 
B)  Endomycorrhizae, but not ectomycorrhizae, form a dense sheath over the surface of the root. 
C)  Ectomycorrhizae do not penetrate root cells, whereas endomycorrhizae grow into invaginations of the root cell membranes. 
D)  Ectomycorrhizae are found in woody plant species; about 85% of plant families form ectomycorrhizae. 
E)  There are no significant differences between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae.

Question 20

Which of the following is a true statement about nitrogen fixation in root nodules?

Accepted Answer

A)  The plant contributes the nitrogenase enzyme. 
B)  The process is relatively inexpensive in terms of ATP costs. 
C)  Leghemoglobin helps maintain a low O₂ concentration within the nodule. 
D)  The process tends to deplete nitrogen compounds in the soil. 
E)  The bacteria of the nodule are autotrophic. 
A)  The plant contributes the nitrogenase enzyme. 
B)  The process is relatively inexpensive in terms of ATP costs. 
C)  Leghemoglobin helps maintain a low O₂ concentration within the nodule. 
D)  The process tends to deplete nitrogen compounds in the soil. 
E)  The bacteria of the nodule are autotrophic.

Exam 37: Soil and Plant Nutrition

The specific relationship between a legume and its mutualistic Rhizobium strain probably depends on

A corn (Zea mays)mutant is developed that is deficient in magnesium uptake. The most likely phenotypic expression would be

Why is nitrogen fixation an essential process?

There are several properties that are characteristic of a soil in which typical plants would grow well. Of the following, which would be the least conducive to plant growth?

Which of the following elements is incorrectly paired with its function in a plant?

If an African violet has chlorosis, which of the following elements might be a useful addition to the soil?

If you wanted to increase the cation exchange and water retention capacity of loamy soil, what should you do?

Figure 37.1 shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth. Figure 37.1 -The best explanation for the shape of the growth response curve in Figure 37.1 is that

Which of the following is not true of micronutrients in plants?

The NPK percentages on a package of fertilizer refer to the

Which of the following essential nutrients plays an essential role in the opening and closing of the stomatal aperture?

Which of the following elements, if increased in concentration, would increase the stability of cell walls?

A researcher analyzes the mineral content of a particular grass and is surprised to find substantial levels of uranium in both leaf and root tissues. The most likely explanation for this finding is that

When performing a mineral nutrition experiment, researchers use water from a glass still. Why is it not a good idea to use regular distilled water from a stainless steel still?

You are conducting an experiment on plant growth. You take a plant fresh from the soil that weighs 5 kg. Then you dry the plant overnight and determine the dry weight to be 1 kg. Of this dry weight, how much would you expect to be made up of organic molecules?

The bulk of a plant's dry weight is derived from

Micronutrients are needed in very small amounts because

Which of the following is a primary difference between ectomycorrhizae and endomycorrhizae?

Which of the following is a true statement about nitrogen fixation in root nodules?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

Filters