NEET Biology Unit13 MINERAL NUTRITION

NEET Biology Unit13 

MINERAL NUTRITION

[with Short tricks & Sample Question Paper]
METHODS TO STUDY THE MINERAL, REQUIREMENTS OF PLANTS

In 1860, Julius von Sachs, a prominent German botanist, demonstrated for the first time, that plants could be grown to maturity in a defined nutrient solution in complete absence of soil.Since then, a number of improvised methods have been employed to try and determine the mineral nutrients essential for plants.
This technique of growing plants in a nutrient solution is known as Hydroponics. The essence of all these methods involves the culture of plants in a soil-free, defined mineral solution. These methods require purified water and mineral nutrient salts.
After a series of experiments in which the roots of the plants were immersed in nutrient solutions and wherein an element was added/removed or given in varied concentration, a mineral solution suitable for the plant growth was obtained. By this method. essential elements were indentified and their deficiency symptoms discovered. Hydroponics has been successfully employed as a technique for the commercial production of vegetables such as tomato, seedless cucumber and lettuce. It must be emphasised that the nutrient solutions must be adequately aerated to obtain the optimum growth. Diagrammatic views of the hydroponic technique is given in Figure.


MINERALS & NUTRITION

 Curtis considered that transpiration is a necessary evil.
 Succulent stomata are scotoactive because they open at night and closes during the day hour e.g. Bryophyllum, Opunita etc.
 Zelich told that glycolic acid is responsible for opening & closing of Stomata.
 Old aged stem and fruit respire by lenticles.
 Fresh weight is maximum in morning & minimum at noon.
 If a plant is taken at higher altitude it will die because of higher transpiration.
 Guttation term was given by Bergerstein.
 Transpiration ratio : The amount of water loss per unit of dry produced during the growing of plant.
 CO2 PMA = Phenyl mercuric acetate & ABA (Abscisic acid) act like antitranspirant.
 Blue light promotes stomates opening.
 In colocasea antiquarum guttation is a normal process. If 50% stomata are closed there will be no effect on transpiration.
 Transpiration flux : The quantity of water transpired by a unit area of leaf surface in a unit time is known as transpiration flux.
 The rate of transpiration is doubled with every rise of 10ºC.
 In electrophoresis flow of solvent takes place between the charged particles. In electrophores in charge solute flow through the solvent.
 The main reason of osmotic pressure of the opened stomata is the potassium chloride or potassium mallate.
 The photophosphorylation process in the guard cells is a energy metabolic process, not CO2 metabolic process.
 Accumulation of Na+ ions is found in the epidermal cells which is present near the guard cells in some of the plants.
This is found in such plants which are growing in salty land.

SAMPLE NEET QUESTION PAPER
Ex.1 Which one of the following is not an essential
mineral element for plants while the remaining three
are
(A) Cadmium (B) Phosphorus
(C) Iron (D)Manganese
Sol. (A)
Ex.2 The given figure shows hydrophonic/soil less plant
production. Plants are grown in a tube or through
placed on a slight incline. The arrows indicate the
direction of flow of nutrient solution.
Nutrient solution is sent to the elevated end of the
tube from the reservoir by ______ and it flows back
into reservoir due to _______.
(A) Pump, Gravity (B) Gravity, Pump
(C) Gravity, Gravity (D) Pump, Pump
Sol. (A)
Ex.3 Which of the following ions of heavy metals
participate in process of photosynthesis in higher
plants
(A) Pb, Fe, Ni, Co (B) Mg, Zn, Cu, Hg
(C) Mg, Mn, Co, Fe (D) Mg, Cu, Mn, Fe
Sol. (D)
Ex.4 The number of essential elements required for
normal growth of plant is
(A) 10 (B) 16
(C) 20 (D) 25
Sol. (B)
Ex.5 Which of the following is associated with electron
transport in photosynthesis
(A) Sodium (B) Potassium
(C) Iron (D) Cobalt
Sol. (C)
Ex.6 Deficiency symptoms of nitrogen and potassium
are visible first in
(A) Roots (B) buds
(C) Senescent leaves (D) Yound leaves
Sol. (C) : N and K are mobile elements.
Ex.7 Plants requiring two metallic compounds (minerals)
for chlorophyll synthesis, are
Or
One mineral activates the enzyme catalase and the
other is a constituent of the ring structure of
chlorophyll. These minerals are respectively
(A) Fe and Ca (B) Fe and Mg
(C) Cu and Ca (D) Ca and K
Sol. (B) : Mg is an important constituent of chlorophyll
molecule where it occupies a central position and
essential for photosynthesis and Fe plays an
important role in ETS, photosynthesis and
respiration because iron is the part of cytochromes.
It is also essential for chlorophyll synthesis
Ex.8 Which of the following element is very essential for
uptake and utilization of Ca2+ and membrane function
(A) Phosphorus (B) Molybdenum
(C)Manganese (D) Copper
(E) Boron
Sol. (E) : Boron is responsible for maintaining the
solubility of calcium in cells.
Ex.9 About 98 percent of the mass of every living
organism is composed of just six elements including
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and
(A) Phosphorus and sulphur
(B) Sulphur and magnesium
(C) Magnesium and sodium
(D) Calcium and phosphorus
Sol. (D)
Ex.10 Micro-nutrients are
(A) Less important in nutrition than macro-nutrients
(B) As important in nutrition as macro-nutrients
(C) May be omitted from culture media without
detrimental effect on the plants
(D) Called micro because they play only minor role
in nutrition
Sol. (B) : Micro-nutrients are present in less amount in
plants but they are as important as macro-nutrients.
Ex.11 Find out the correctly matched pair
(A) Zinc
– Helps to maintain the ribosome structure
(B) Magnesium
– Needed during the formation of mitoticspindle
(C) Calcium
– Plays a role in the opening and closing ofstomata
(D)Manganese
– Needed in the splitting of water to liberate oxygen
during photosynthesis
(E) Potassium – Needed in the synthesis of auxin
Sol. (D)

SOLVED EXAMPLE
1. “Reclamation” and “Little leaf” disease, caused
by deficiency of -
(A) Zn and Mo (B) Cu and Zn
(C) Cu and B (D) Mn and Cu
2. Which element is required in comparatively least
quantity for the growth of plant ?
(A) Zn (B) N
(C) P (D) Ca
3. Which of the following essential element is not
properly placed in the given category ?
(A) Cu (B) Zn
(C) Mg (D) Mn
4. Criteria for essentiality in mineral nutrition were
shown firstly by : -
(A) Arnon (B) Liebig
(C) Steward (D) Levitt
5. Which mineral nutrients are called critical element
for crops ?
(A) N, P, K (B) C, H, O
(C) N, S, Mg (D) K, Ca, Fe
6. The mineral nutrient mainly concerning with apical
meristematic activity is : -
(A) K (B) Ca
(C) N (D) S
7. Little leaf disease is caused by -
(A) Zn - deficiency (B) Cu - deficiency
(C) Mo - deficiency (D) Mn - deficiency
8. Which of the following does NPK denote ?
(A) Nitrogen, Potassium, Kinetin
(B) Nitrogen, Protein, Kinetin
(C) Nitrogen, Protein, Potassium
(D) Nitrogen,Phosphours, Potassium
9. Plants absorb mineral salts from the soil solution
through : -
(A) A semipermeable membrane into the cytoplasm
(B) Perforations at the apex of root hair cells
(C) The cell wall which is semipermeable
(D) None of these
10. Mineral salts which are absorbed by the roots
from the soil are in the form of : -
(A) Very dilute solution
(B) Dilute solution
(C) Concentrated solution
(D) Very concentrated solution
11. By which method ions are absorbed by the plants
?
(A) Diffusion (B) DPD gradient
(C) Carrers proteins (D) Water pontential
12. Hydrophytes absorb salt and water by : -
(A) Root and root hairs (B) Leaves and root
(C) Roots and stem (D) General epidermis
13. Active and passive absorption terms were coined
by : -
(A) Kramer (B) Deutrochet
(C) Priestley (D) Renner
14. Which is free ion present in a cell ?
(A) P (B) K
(C) Fe (D) B
15. Who give the Cytochrome pump theory ?
(A) Sachs (B) Lundegradh
(C) Bose & Renner (D) Bennet - Clark
16. Who proposed the protein lecithin theory ?
(A) Sachs (B) Lundegradh
(C) Bose & Renner (D) Bennet & Clark
17. Carrier protein helped in : -
(A) Active absorption of ions
(B) Passive ions absorption
(C) Water absorption
(D) Vaporization
18. Active uptake of minerals depends upon :-
(A) Active water absorption
(B) Transpiration
(C) Photorespiration
(D) Dephosphorylation

Exercise # 1 SINGLE OBJECTIVE NEET LEVEL
1. Which of the group of elements is not essential
for a normal plant ?
(A) K, Ca, Mg (B) Fe, Zn, Mn, B
(C) Pb, I, Na (D) Mg, Fe, Mo
2. Hydroponics is a technique in which plants are
grown in ?
(A) Green house
(B) Water saturated sand
(C) Balanced nutrient solution
(D) Purified distilled water
3. For cholrophyll formation a plant needs :-
(A) Fe, Ca & light (B) Fe, Mg & Light
(C) Ca, K & light (D) Mn & Cu
4. Brown heart rot of beets is due to deficiency of-
(A) B (B) P
(C) Mg (D) Mo
5. Die back disease in citrus is due to deficiency of
: -
(A) Mo (B) B
(C) Cu (D) Zn
6. The disease related with deficiency of
molybdenum is : -
(A) Whiptail disease of cauliflower
(B) Little leaf disease
(C) Reclamation disease of cereals
(D) Brown heart disease
7. Protoplasmic elements are : -
(A) C, H, O, P, N, S (B) C, H, O, Fe, N
(C) N, S, Fe, P, K (D) Fe, Mg, Ca, N, P
8. Which element is not considered as macronutrient
?
(A) Mg (B) Ca
(C) Mn (D) P
9. The element which can not be placed along with
micronutrients : -
(A) Mn (B) Mo
(C) Cu (D) Ca
10. The amino acid having S in its composition is -
(A) Cystine (B) Cysteine
(C) Methionine (D) All
11. Which elements are considered as balancing
elements ?
(A) Ca & K (B) C & H
(C) N & S (D) Mg and Fe
12. The group of mineral nutrients known as frame
work elements : -
(A) N, S, P (B) C, H, O
(C) Mg, Fe, Zn (D) Zn, Mn, Cu
13. Which element essential for stability of
chromosome structure ?
(A) Zn (B) Ca
(C) Mo (D) Fe
14. Hydroponics or soilless culture helps in knowing
(A) essentiality of an element
(B) deficiency of an element
(C) toxicity caused by an element
(D) all of these
15. The technique of hydroponics is being employed
for the commerical production of vegetables like
(A) tomato (B) cucumber
(C) lettuce (D) all of these
16. Select the correct statement (s) regarding the
solution culture techniques.
(A) Successful hydroponic culture requires a large
volume of nutrient solution or frequent
adjustment of the nutrient solution to prevent
roots from producing radical changes in
nutrient concentrations and pH of the
medium.
(B) In nutrient film growth system, plant root lie
on the surface of a trough, and nutrient
solutions flow in thin layer along the trough
over the roots.
(C) In aeroponics technique, plants are grown
with their roots suspended in air while being
sprayed continuosuly with a nutrient
solution
(D) All of these .

Exercise # 2 SINGLE OBJECTIVE AIIMS LEVEL
1. Match Column - I with Column - II and select the correct option from the codes given below.
Column - I Column II
(Activator element) (Enzyme)
A. Mgii+ i. Nitrate reductase
B. Znii+ ii. RuBisCO, PEPCO
C. Mo iii. Alcohol dehydrogenase
(A) A-ii, B-iii, (C) - i (B) A-iii, B-ii, (C)-i (C) A-i, B-iii, (C)-ii (D) A-ii, B-i, (C)-iii
2. Select the correctly matched pair.
(A) Zinc – Helps to maintain the ribosome structure
(B) Magnesium – Needed during the formation of mitotic spindle
(C) Calcium – Plays a role in the opening and closing of stomata
(D)Manganese – Needed in the splitting of water to liberate oxygen during photosynthesis
3. Match the element with its associated functions/roles and choose the correct option among given below.
A. Boron i. splitting of HiiO to liberate Oii during photosynthesis
B.Manganese ii. needed for synthesis of auxins
C. Molybdenum iii. component of nitrogenase
D. Zinc iv. pollen germination
E. Iron v. component of ferredoxin
(A) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv, E-v (B) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii, E-v
(C) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-v, E-i (D) A-ii, B-iii, C-v, D-i, E-iv
4. Match the following with correct combination
Column I Column II
A. Cuscuta i. Saprophyte
B. Eichornia ii. Pneumatophore
C. Monotropa iii. Insectivorous plant
D. Rhizophora iv. Parasite
E. Utricularia v. Root pocket
(A) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-v, E-ii (B) A-iv, B-v, C-i, D-ii, E-iii (C) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-v, E-iv (D) A-iii, B-i, C-v, D-iv, E-ii
(E) A-ii, B-v, C-iv, D-iii, E-i
5. Match the following and choose the correct combination from the options given
Column I Column II
A. Potassium i. Constituent of ferredoxin
B. Sulphur ii. Involved in stomatal movement
C. Molybdenum iii. Needed in the synthesis of auxin
D. Zinc iv. Component of nitrogenase
(A) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (B) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv (C) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i (D) A-i, B-iii, C-iv, D-ii
(E) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
6. Match the following mineral element with their deficiency symptom and choose the correct option
Column I Column II
A. Calcium i. Chlorotic veins
B. Potassium ii. Delayed germination of seeds
C. Zinc iii. Necrosis of young leaves
D. Iron iv. Scorched leaf tips
E. Phosphorous v. Malformed leaves
(A) A-iii, B-i, C-v, D-ii, E-iv (B) A-i, B-iv, C-v, D-iii, E-ii (C) A-iii, B-iv, C-v, D-i, E-ii (D) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i, E-v
(E) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii, E-v

Exercise # 3 PART - 1 MATRIX MATCH COLUMN
1. The plants grown in magnesium deficienty but urea
sprayed soil would show [CBSE AIPMT 2000]
(A) Deep green foliage
(B) Early flowering
(C) Yellowing of leaves
(D) loss of pigments in petals
2. Zinc as a nutrient is used by the plants in the form
of [CBSE AIPMT 2000]
(A) Zn (B) Zn2+
(C) ZnO (D) ZnSO4
3. Which aquatic fern performs nitrogen fixation : -
[CBSE AIPMT 2001]
(A) Azolla (B) Nostoc
(C) Salvia (D) Salvinia
4. In plants inulin and pectin are
[CBSE AIPMT 2001]
(A) Reserved material
(B) Wastes
(C) Excretory material
(D) Insect attracting material
5. Enzyme involved in nitrogen assimilation : -
[CBSE AIPMT 2001]
(A) Nitrogenase (B) Nitrate reductase
(C) Transferase (D) Transaminase
6. Passive absorption of minerals depend on
[CBSE AIPMT 2001]
(A) Temperature
(B) Temperature and metabolic inhibitor
(C) Metabolic inhibitor
(D) Humidity
7. Choose the correct match Bladderwort, sundew,
venus fly trap [CBSE AIPMT 2002]
(A) Nepenthes, Dionea, Drosera
(B) Nepenthes, Utricularia, Vanda
(C) Utricularia, Drosera, Dionea
(D) Dionea, Trapa, Vanda
8. The major portion of the dry weight of plants comprises
of : - [CBSE AIPMT 2003]
(A) Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
(B) Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
(C) Calcium, magnesium and sulphur
(D) Carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen
9. Gray spots of oat are caused by deficiency of : -
[CBSE AIPMT 2003]
(A) Fe (B) Cu
(C) Zn (D) Mn
10. Boron in green plants assists in : -
[CBSE AIPMT 2003]
(A) Sugar transport
(B) Activation of enzymes
(C) Acting of enzyme cofactor
(D) Photosynthesis
11. The major role of minor elements inside living organisms
is to act as : - [CBSE AIPMT 2003]
(A) Binder of cell structure
(B) co-factors of enzymes
(C) Building blocks of important amino acids
(D) Constituent of hormones
12. A free living nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium which
can also form symbiotic association with the water
fern Azolla is :- [CBSE AIPMT 2004]
(A) Tolypothrix (B) Chlorella
(C) Nostoc (D) Anabaena
13. The deficiencies of micronutrients, not only affects
growth of plants but also vital functions such as
photosynthetic and mitochondrial electron flow.
Among the list given below, which group of three
elements shall affect most, both photosynthetic and
mitochondrial electron transport -
[CBSE AIPMT 2005]
(A) Co, Ni, Mo (B) Ca, K, Na
(C) Mn, Co, Ca (D) Cu, Mn, Fe
14. A plant requires magnesium for :
[CBSE AIPMT 2007]
(A) Holding cells together
(B) Protein synthesis
(C) Chlorophyll synthesis
(D) Cell wall development
15. Which one of the following elements is not an essential
micronutrient for plant growth?
[CBSE AIPMT 2007]
(A) Mn (B) Zn
(C) Cu (D) Ca

Exercise # 4 PART - 1 PREVIOUS YEAR (NEET/AIPMT)
1. Plants could be grown to maturity in a defined nutrient solution was demonstrated for the first time by
(A) Priestley (B) Von Sacchs (C) Ingenhausz (D) Van Niel
2. Which is essential for the growth of root tip?
(A) Zn (B) Fe (C) Ca (D) Mn
3. In which of the following all three are macronutrients?
(A) Molybdenum, magnesium, manganese (B) Nitrogen, nicke, phosphorus
(C) Boron, zinc, manganese (D) Iron, copper, molybdenum
4. Which of the following is not a crole played by potassium in plant growth ?
(A) Translocation of carbohydrates (B) Maintaining anion-cation balance
(C) Opening and closing of stomata (D) Synthesis of protein
(E) Maintaining turgidity of cells
5. Assertion : Soil particles, particularly clay and organic matter in soil, contain negative charges that attract positivelycharged
ions such as Ca++, K+ and Mg++.
Reason : Essential elements derived from soil are termed as mineral elements while those derived from air or water are
known as non-mineral elements.
(A) If both assertion and reason are ture and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(B) If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
(C) If assertion is true but reason is false.
(D) If both assertion and reason are false
6. Match the Column I with that of column II and choose the correct combination from the options given
Column I Column II
Essential elements Deficiency causes
A. N, K, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, (i) Inhibit cell division Zn and Mo
B. N, K, S and Mo (ii) Necrosis
C. Ca, Mg, Cu and K (iii) Delay in flowering
D. N, S and Mo (iv) Chlorosis
(A) A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(i) (B) A-(i), B-(ii), C-(iii), D-(iv)
(C) A-(iv), B-(i), C-(ii), D-(iii) (D) A-(ii), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i)
(E) A-(iii), B-(iv), C-(ii), D-(i)
7. Which of the following groups of minerals are micronutrients?
(A)Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Boron and Phosphorus
(B) Manganese, Copper, Magnesium, Zinc and Boron
(C) Nitrogen, Potassium, Manganese, Copper and Iron
(D) Iron, Manganese, Copper, Molybdenum and Zinc
(E) Carbon, Potassium, Phosphorus, Nitrogen and Oxygen
8. Match the mineral in column I with the enzyme activated by it in column II and choose the correct option.
Column I Column II
A. Magnesium i. Alcohol dehydrogenase
B. Molybdenum ii. Phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase
C. Zinc iii. Nitrogenase
(A) A-ii, B-iii, C-i (B) A-i, B-ii, C-iii (C) A-ii, B-i, C-iii (D) A-iii, B-ii, C-i
(E) A-iii, B-i, C-ii
MOCK TEST
PHYSICS
Module-1
1. Physical World &
Measurements
2. Basic Maths & Vector
3. Kinematics
Module-2
1. Law of Motion & Friction
2. Work, Energy & Power
Module-3
1. Motion of system of
particles & Rigid Body
2. Gravitation
Module-4
1. Mechanical Properties
of Matter
2. Thermal Properties of Matter
Module-5
1. Oscillations
2. Waves
CHEMISTRY
Module-1(PC)
1. Some Basic Conceps of
Chemistry
2. Atomic Structure
3. Chemical Equilibrium
4. Ionic Equilibrium
Module-2(PC)
1. Thermodynamics &
Thermochemistry
2. Redox Reaction
3. States Of Matter (Gaseous &
Liquid)
Module-3(IC)
1. Periodic Table
2. Chemical Bonding
3. Hydrogen & Its Compounds
4. S-Block
Module-4(OC)
1. Nomenclature of
Organic Compounds
2. Isomerism
3. General Organic Chemistry
Module-5(OC)
1. Reaction Mechanism
2. Hydrocarbon
3. Aromatic Hydrocarbon
4. Environmental Chemistry &
Analysis Of Organic Compounds
BIOLOGY
Module-1
1. Diversity in the Living
World
2. Plant Kingdom
3. Animal Kingdom
Module-2
1. Morphology in Flowering Plants
2. Anatomy of Flowering Plants
3. Structural Organization in
Animals
Module-3
1. Cell: The Unit of Life
2. Biomolecules
3. Cell Cycle & Cell Division
4. Transport in Plants
5. Mineral Nutrition
Module-4
1. Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
2. Respiration in Plants
3. Plant Growth and Development
4. Digestion & Absorption
5. Breathing & Exchange of Gases
Module-5
1. Body Fluids & Its Circulation
2. Excretory Products & Their
Elimination
3. Locomotion & Its Movement
4. Neural Control & Coordination
5. Chemical Coordination and
Integration