Question

An Acacia seedling grown in shade (50% full sun) is expected to have a ________ net assimilation rate (NAR) and a ________ leaf area ratio (LAR) than an Acacia seedling grown in full sun.

A) higher; higher
B) lower; lower
C) lower; higher
D) higher; lower

Answer 1

An Acacia seedling grown in shade is expected to have a lower net assimilation rate and a higher leaf area ratio than an Acacia seedling grown in full sun.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is C) lower; higher.

An Acacia seedling grown in shade (50% full sun) is expected to have a lower net assimilation rate (NAR) than an Acacia seedling grown in full sun. This is because the seedling in shade receives less sunlight, which reduces the rate of photosynthesis and therefore the overall assimilation of carbon dioxide and energy.

However, the Acacia seedling grown in shade is expected to have a higher leaf area ratio (LAR) than the seedling grown in full sun. This is because when plants are grown in shade, they tend to allocate more resources to increase leaf area in order to capture more light.

Answer 2

An Acacia seedling grown in shade (50% full sun) is expected to have a lower net assimilation rate (NAR) and a higher leaf area ratio (LAR) than an Acacia seedling grown in full sun, corresponding to option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The growth of plants in shade conditions typically leads to adaptations to capture available light more efficiently. In shade, plants often allocate resources towards increased leaf area (LAR) to enhance light interception.

This comes at the cost of a lower net assimilation rate (NAR), as the reduced sunlight availability limits the overall photosynthetic capacity. In full sun, plants prioritize higher net assimilation rates to maximize photosynthesis under abundant light, resulting in a lower leaf area ratio as a trade-off.

Option C is the answer, accurately reflecting the expected physiological adjustments in Acacia seedlings grown in shade compared to those in full sun.