Question

Which same plant part has transformed into the following different modifications.
(i) Tendril of Pumpkin
(ii) Thorn of Citrus?

Answer 1

Hint: Plant parts including roots are modified for reserve storage of food materials in certain plants. Like leaves and roots, shoots and stems are indeed modified. Instances include rhizomes, stolons, tubers, thorns, spines, cladophylls, and stem traps.

Complete answer:
The tendril of pumpkin is a modification of the stem. It is developed by an axillary bud. It's a spiral, long thin wire structure. Tendrils are being used to help the plant climb or hang mostly on supports. Tendrils can even carry out photosynthesis, but the really cool thing regarding tendrils is that they can use chemicals into the atmosphere to help them determine which way to rotate around. The fragile, harmless tendril does have bad intent, by using tight curling skill to squeeze the life out of competition, and even to invade and entrap other plants. They could also be shaped from modified shoots, modified leaves, or auxiliary branches and therefore are prone to chemicals, often determining the growth path, like in the Cuscuta species. If the tendril gets in contact with the object for long enough, it normally coils around this one, producing a good anchor point for the pitcher. In just this way, the tendrils help to support the rising stem of the plant. While tendrils twine over hosts based on contact perception, plants have a form of personal and avoid overlap around self, demonstrating chemo-tropism. The thorn is a solid, flat, pointed framework. Thorns constitute a variation of the axillary shoot system, wherein the leaves are weakened and die rapidly, as well as the stems, are extensively sclerified and grow for only a limited time period (determinate growth). Thorns serve to shield the plant from herbivores. When the tree is young, the vegetation is quite fragile. For this cause, many juvenile citruses have thorns, mature plants mostly do not. Of course, this may create some hardships for the farmer, because it is difficult for the thorns to harvest the fruit.
So, the correct answer is option (i).

Note: Root modifications serve two primary functions, physiological and mechanical. They are modified for assistance, storage of food and respiration reasons. Leaves can be modified in the formation of spines that limit water loss and can also work as a shield. Many plants have developed underground stems for perennial use and storage of food. Each year, they develop aerial shootings.