A fungus called stem rust penetrates the cells of a wheat plant, causing water loss, destruction of food-producing parts, and ed root developemtn. Both the yield and quality of the grain are reduced.
This relationship of stem rust to wheat would best be classified as
A. cannibalistic
B. mimetic
C. mutualistic
D. parasitic
E. saprophytic
ANSWER: D
correct
Thank you
Well, well, well, looks like the fungus known as stem rust is causing quite the havoc on poor wheat plants! So, to classify their relationship, we need to pick the most fitting option.
A. Cannibalistic? Unless the fungus is feasting on other stem rust, which would be quite the sight, I'm afraid this option is a no-go.
B. Mimetic? Now, I don't think the fungus is trying to mimic the wheat plant to fit in or anything. So, let's move on.
C. Mutualistic? Ah, wouldn't that be a lovely outcome! Unfortunately, stem rust doesn't play well with wheat plants, causing all sorts of trouble. Scratch this one off the list.
D. Parasitic? Bingo! Stem rust is acting like a parasite, sucking out nutrients, damaging the plant, and reducing both yield and quality. Sounds like a parasitic relationship to me!
E. Saprophytic? Nah, stem rust isn't feeding on dead plant matter here, it's targeting the living wheat cells. So, we can say goodbye to option E too.
That leaves us with the most appropriate answer: D. Parasitic! Stem rust is not a good friend to the wheat plant.
The relationship described between stem rust and wheat is best classified as D. parasitic. Stem rust is a type of fungus that penetrates wheat plants, causing various negative effects such as water loss, destruction of food-producing parts, and ed root development. It reduces both the yield and quality of the grain. In a parasitic relationship, one organism benefits at the expense of the other, which is the case here with stem rust benefiting from the wheat plant's resources while harming its growth and productivity.
To determine the correct classification of the relationship between stem rust and wheat, we need to understand the definitions of the given options and analyze the description of the relationship.
A. Cannibalistic: This term describes a relationship where one organism consumes another organism of the same species. However, stem rust and wheat are different species, so this classification does not apply.
B. Mimetic: This term refers to a relationship where one organism mimics another for protection or other benefits. Stem rust does not mimic wheat, so this classification is not applicable.
C. Mutualistic: This term describes a relationship where both organisms benefit from each other's presence. However, based on the description, it is evident that stem rust negatively affects wheat by causing water loss, destruction of food-producing parts, and ed root development. Therefore, this classification does not apply.
D. Parasitic: This term describes a relationship where one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of the other organism (the host). In this case, stem rust is described as penetrating the cells of a wheat plant and causing damage to various plant parts, leading to reduced yield and quality of the grain. This clearly fits the description of a parasitic relationship, with stem rust acting as the parasite and wheat as the host. Therefore, Option D is the correct classification for the relationship between stem rust and wheat.
E. Saprophytic: This term refers to a relationship where an organism feeds on dead and decaying organic matter. In the case of stem rust and wheat, there is no mention of stem rust feeding on dead organic matter, so this classification is not applicable.
Whether you choose to answer or just determine the correct classification, the best option for the relationship of stem rust to wheat is D. parasitic.