A coastal area was flooded with sea water and resulted in heavy salt deposits in the nearby area. After a few days, it was observed that many plants died. Based on these statements, which of the following is the most probable cause of the plant deaths?
A. Plants died due to infection from sea water borne germs.
B. Plants died due to absence of sunlight.
C. Plants died due to plasmolysis in the plant cells.
D. Plants died because they were eaten by sea organisms.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. C .
The most probable cause of the plant deaths is:
C. Plants died due to plasmolysis in the plant cells.
When seawater floods a coastal area, it deposits high concentrations of salt in the soil. This increases the soil’s salinity, causing water to move out of plant cells through osmosis. The plant cells lose water, leading to plasmolysis, where the cell membrane shrinks away from the cell wall, damaging the cells and disrupting vital functions. This dehydration prevents plants from absorbing water properly, resulting in their death. Options like infection, lack of sunlight, or being eaten by sea organisms are less likely in this context, making plasmolysis due to salt stress the most logical cause.