Question

The nodules on the roots of leguminous plants are destroyed. How will it affect the plant? Explain with reason.

Answer 1

Hint: Root nodules are formed from the symbiotic association of the roots of leguminous plants with the soil bacteria Rhizobium that helps in nitrogen fixation.

Complete answer:
>Plants cannot directly make use of the atmospheric nitrogen.
>The significant role of root nodules in leguminous plants is to convert the atmospheric nitrogen into other forms of nitrogen like nitrates which can be utilized by the plants.
>Rhizobium contains the enzyme nitrogenase, which converts nitrogen from the atmosphere into ammonia .
>It acts like a natural fertilizer to the plants.
>Through the process of photosynthesis, plants in return provide sugars to Rhizobium.
>The destruction of root nodules results in the destruction of cells.
>This leads to the decrease in the amount of nitrogen present in the soil.
>Nitrogen deficiency in plants leads to poor growth of the plants, and the leaves turn to yellow colour due to lack of chlorophyll and is called chlorosis. And eventually it results in the death of a plant.

Note:Nitrogen deficiency can occur in soil when a large quantity of organic matter that is rich in carbon content such as saw dust is added to the soil. Other soil organisms make use of nitrogen for breaking carbon sources and ensuring the non availability of nit6to plants. This process is called "robbing" the soil of nitrogen.