What is the primary physiological function of bulliform (motor) cells located on the adaxial epidermis of grass leaves?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. They lose turgidity during water stress
- Step 1: In grass leaves, certain adaxial epidermal cells along the veins modify into large, empty, thin-walled, colorless cells called bulliform cells.
- Step 2: When bulliform cells absorb water and become turgid, the leaf surface expands and remains flat.
- Step 3: Under drought stress, they lose water, become flaccid, and curl the leaf margins inward, drastically reducing exposed surface area and transpiration.
Answer
They lose turgidity during water stress
Why not the others: 'They secrete digestive proteolytic enzymes...' is a function of insectivorous plant glandular trichomes; 'They actively pump sucrose...' describes phloem companion cells; 'They synthesize suberin...' is a function of root endodermal cells.
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