Using your understanding of the function of chloroplasts and specialized cells, infer why plant root cells lack chloroplasts.

Question

a. Root cells have many mitochondria.

b. Root cells have two central vacuoles.

c. Roots require fewer nutrients.

d. Roots are underground and are not exposed to sunlight.

Answer 1

The correct inference is:

d. Roots are underground and are not exposed to sunlight.

Chloroplasts are the organelles in plant cells responsible for photosynthesis, which requires sunlight. Since root cells are located underground, they do not receive light and therefore do not have a need for chloroplasts. Instead, root cells primarily focus on absorbing water and nutrients from the soil, which is why they do not possess the specialized structures for photosynthesis.