Final answer:
The hypothesis most supported by the iodine test results is that chlorophyll is necessary for starch production through photosynthesis, and the presence of starch in the green parts of leaves indicates that photosynthesis occurs there. The lack of starch in the white parts suggests no chlorophyll and no photosynthesis, hinting at a genetic control over chlorophyll distribution.
Step-by-step explanation:
One would most correctly hypothesize that the starch production in plants is linked to the presence of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, which is the process by which plants synthesize food.
Since the iodine test detects the presence of starch by changing color to blue-violet in the presence of starch, and the white parts of the leaves contain no starch, it suggests that these white parts lack chlorophyll and are, therefore, not performing photosynthesis.
The green parts of the leaves, which do contain starch, are where photosynthesis is actively occurring thanks to the presence of chlorophyll.
The difference in coloration within the leaves suggests that there may be a genetic factor determining where chlorophyll is produced within the plant, causing some parts of the leaves to be green and capable of photosynthesis, while others are white and non-photosynthetic.