Question

The carbohydrate used as a storage molecule in plants is

• A. Starch
• B. Glycogen
• C. Cellulose
• D. Glucose

Hint:

Starch is a polysaccharide that is used by plants to store energy, while cellulose provides structural support in plant cells.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Plants use carbohydrates as storage molecules to store energy for future use. The correct answer to the question about the carbohydrate used as a storage molecule in plants is Starch. Let's explore why starch is the correct answer and rule out the other options:

1. Starch:

   Starch is a polysaccharide composed of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. It serves as an energy storage molecule in plants. Starch is stored in various parts of the plant such as seeds, roots, and leaves. It is beneficial for plants because it can be broken down into glucose when energy is needed.

2. Glycogen:

   Glycogen is a storage form of glucose in animals and fungi, not plants. It is mainly stored in the liver and muscle tissues of animals. Therefore, glycogen does not serve as a storage molecule in plants.

3. Cellulose:

   Cellulose is also a polysaccharide, but it is used by plants as a structural molecule, providing rigidity to plant cell walls. It is not used for energy storage, so it can be ruled out.

4. Glucose:

   Glucose is a simple sugar and is the basic building block of more complex carbohydrates like starch and cellulose. While it is the immediate source of energy, it is not stored in its simple form in plants.

Thus, based on the explanation above, Starch is the primary carbohydrate used by plants for energy storage.