Experiment: Sunflower plants were grown in windy vs. still conditions. Stem diameter and height were measured weekly.Observation: Wind-exposed plants had thicker stems but shorter height.Question: What does this suggest?

Correct answer: C. Mechanical stress promotes stem strengthening at the expense of height growth.

  • A. Wind exposure strengthens stems while inhibiting height growth.
  • B. Stem thickness increases due to wind-induced mechanical stress.
  • C. Mechanical stress promotes stem strengthening at the expense of height growth.
  • D. Wind exposure results in stunted growth and thicker stems.

Explanation

The correct answer is Option C: Mechanical stress promotes stem strengthening at the expense of height growth. Wind exposure led to thicker stems in sunflower plants due to the mechanical stress that promoted stem strengthening. However, this came at the expense of height growth, as the plants had to allocate more resources to stem development. The other options are incorrect because they either misinterpret the relationship between wind and plant growth or fail to capture the trade-off observed in the experiment.

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