Final answer:
Plants can synthesize carotenoids, such as β-carotene, which are precursors to vitamin A and are converted into the active vitamin in the bodies of animals. Therefore, it is false to say that plants cannot synthesize vitamin A; they just produce the provitamins instead.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that plants cannot synthesise vitamin A is false. While it is true that plants do not produce vitamin A as an end product, they do synthesize compounds known as carotenoids, such as α, β, and γ carotenes. Among these carotenoids, β-carotene is the most significant precursor to vitamin A and can be converted into the active vitamin A in the bodies of animals that consume plant matter.
Additionally, many plants are capable of synthesizing a variety of vitamins and other essential nutrients because they cannot rely on external sources to obtain them.