Question

“Potato is a stem and sweet potato is a root”. Justify the statement on the basis of external features.

Answer 1

Hint: Potato and sweet potato both have modifications of the plant parts in order to store food. Both these plants grow under the soil. They are highly nutrient dense food eaten fondly worldwide.

Complete Answer:
Potato: The biological name of potato is Solanum tuberosum. It is an annual plant belonging to the nightshade family. The modification for food storage is the tuber. Potato grows on the end of the underground stem known as the stolon.
- Potato is considered as a stem because it has many nodes called the eye and space between each eye is called the internodes. The eye of the potato can develop into a shoot and a new plant. Thus it is a stem vegetable.
- Potato is densely packed with nutrients and minerals essential for growth and development.

Sweet potato: The biological name of sweet potato is Ipomea batatas. It belongs to the morning glory family.
- These plants have adventitious root modifications called tuberous roots. The roots swell into tubers and thus store starch food. These are rich in minerals and antioxidants and have medicinal benefits. So, it is a root vegetable.

Additional information: Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of Vitamin c, phosphorous and beta carotene. Potato is a starchy vegetable rich in phosphorus and fibres.

Note: Potato and sweet potato do not belong to the same family. Potato stem modification is called the rhizome whereas in sweet potato the roots store food are known as tuberous roots.