Mineral nutrition - macro and micronutrients, deficiency symptoms, nitrogen metabolism - Question Bank

1. Which element is a component of the enzyme superoxide dismutase and plays a role in protecting cells from oxidative damage?
A) Zinc
B) Copper
C) Manganese
D) Iron
2. A deficiency in Sulfur (S) can cause symptoms similar to those of:
A) Nitrogen deficiency
B) Potassium deficiency
C) Calcium deficiency
D) Phosphorus deficiency
3. Which element is a component of the enzyme aconitase and is involved in the Krebs cycle?
A) Iron
B) Manganese
C) Zinc
D) Copper
4. The deficiency of Chlorine (Cl-) can lead to:
A) Wilting of leaves
B) Chlorosis and necrosis
C) Stunted growth
D) Increased resistance to drought
5. Plants absorb Nitrogen primarily as:
A) N2 gas
B) Ammonium ions (NH4+) and nitrate ions (NO3-)
C) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
D) Nitrous oxide (N2O)
6. Which enzyme is responsible for the assimilation of ammonia into organic compounds, forming glutamine?
A) Glutamate dehydrogenase
B) Glutamine synthetase
C) Aspartate aminotransferase
D) Nitrate reductase
7. Which of the following is a source of atmospheric nitrogen that plants can directly utilize?
A) N2 gas
B) Ammonia (NH3)
C) Nitrate (NO3-)
D) Nitrite (NO2-)
8. The deficiency symptom of 'marsh spot' in peas is associated with a lack of:
A) Manganese
B) Boron
C) Zinc
D) Copper
9. Which element is a component of ferredoxin and cytochromes, involved in electron transport?
A) Manganese
B) Copper
C) Iron
D) Molybdenum
10. A deficiency in Boron (B) can lead to impaired:
A) Photosynthesis
B) Respiration
C) Pollen germination and tube growth
D) Nitrogen fixation
11. Which of the following is a macronutrient that plays a role in energy transfer (ATP synthesis) and nucleic acid formation?
A) Sulfur
B) Phosphorus
C) Potassium
D) Magnesium
12. The conversion of nitrite (NO2-) to nitrate (NO3-) is carried out by the enzyme:
A) Nitrate reductase
B) Nitrite reductase
C) Nitrogenase
D) Ammonia monooxygenase
13. Deficiency of Calcium (Ca) often manifests as poor development of:
A) Roots and shoots
B) Leaves
C) Flowers
D) Fruits
14. Which micronutrient is essential for the activity of carboxylase and superoxide dismutase enzymes?
A) Manganese
B) Zinc
C) Iron
D) Copper
15. The process by which soil microorganisms convert organic nitrogen into ammonium ions is called:
A) Nitrification
B) Denitrification
C) Nitrogen fixation
D) Ammonification
16. Which element is involved in osmoregulation and maintaining cell turgor?
A) Calcium
B) Magnesium
C) Potassium
D) Sodium
17. Stunted growth and delayed flowering are common symptoms of deficiency in:
A) Calcium
B) Phosphorus
C) Potassium
D) Sulfur
18. Which of the following is a function of Copper (Cu) in plants?
A) Activation of enzymes involved in photosynthesis and respiration
B) Synthesis of chlorophyll
C) Formation of middle lamella
D) Transport of sugars
19. Interveinal chlorosis in young leaves is a classic symptom of deficiency in:
A) Manganese
B) Iron
C) Magnesium
D) Potassium
20. Which element is involved in the synthesis of essential amino acids like cysteine and methionine?
A) Nitrogen
B) Phosphorus
C) Sulfur
D) Potassium
21. The conversion of ammonia to glutamine, a key step in nitrogen assimilation, is catalyzed by the enzyme:
A) Nitrate reductase
B) Glutamate synthase
C) Glutamine synthetase
D) Aspartate aminotransferase
22. Which micronutrient is required for the synthesis of auxin?
A) Manganese
B) Boron
C) Zinc
D) Iron
23. A deficiency of Phosphorus (P) can lead to anthocyanin accumulation, resulting in:
A) Yellowing of leaves
B) Reddish or purplish coloration of leaves
C) White spots on leaves
D) Leaf curling
24. Which of the following is NOT a primary role of Potassium (K) in plants?
A) Anion-cation balance
B) Protein synthesis
C) Water regulation (turgor pressure)
D) Enzyme activation
25. Plants absorb most mineral nutrients from the soil in the form of:
A) Solid particles
B) Gases
C) Dissolved ions
D) Organic matter
26. The 'whip-tail' effect, characterized by malformed or absent leaves, is a deficiency symptom of:
A) Boron
B) Molybdenum
C) Zinc
D) Copper
27. Which element is a component of plastocyanin and is involved in electron transport during photosynthesis?
A) Iron
B) Manganese
C) Copper
D) Molybdenum
28. A deficiency in Magnesium (Mg) directly impacts which process?
A) Cell wall formation
B) ATP synthesis
C) Photosynthesis
D) Nitrogen fixation
29. Which of the following is a micronutrient?
A) Nitrogen
B) Phosphorus
C) Potassium
D) Zinc
30. Essential elements that are required in relatively larger amounts for plant growth are called:
A) Micronutrients
B) Macronutrients
C) Beneficial elements
D) Trace elements
31. Which enzyme is involved in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite during nitrogen assimilation?
A) Nitrogenase
B) Nitrate reductase
C) Glutamine synthetase
D) Glutamate synthase
32. The process of converting atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3) is called:
A) Nitrification
B) Denitrification
C) Nitrogen fixation
D) Ammonification
33. Which element is essential for the formation of the middle lamella in plant cell walls?
A) Magnesium
B) Calcium
C) Potassium
D) Sulfur
34. A deficiency of Manganese (Mn) can cause:
A) Rotting of root tips
B) Yellowing of young leaves
C) Formation of anthocyanin pigments
D) Increased susceptibility to fungal diseases
35. Which mineral nutrient is crucial for maintaining turgor pressure in plant cells and opening/closing of stomata?
A) Calcium
B) Magnesium
C) Potassium
D) Phosphorus
36. The enzyme nitrogenase, responsible for biological nitrogen fixation, contains which micronutrient as a cofactor?
A) Molybdenum
B) Iron
C) Copper
D) Nickel
37. A deficiency in Iron (Fe) leads to chlorosis, where the interveinal areas turn yellow, while the veins remain green. This phenomenon is known as:
A) Interveinal chlorosis
B) Marginal chlorosis
C) Uniform chlorosis
D) Stunting
38. Which of the following is NOT considered an essential element for plant growth?
A) Potassium
B) Sodium
C) Calcium
D) Magnesium
39. Sulfur (S) is a component of which important organic molecules in plants?
A) Starch and cellulose
B) Amino acids (like cysteine and methionine) and vitamins
C) Lipids and phospholipids
D) Nucleic acids and ATP
40. The 'little leaf' or 'rosette' symptom is characteristic of a deficiency in:
A) Iron
B) Manganese
C) Zinc
D) Boron
41. Which element is involved in the photolysis of water during photosynthesis?
A) Manganese
B) Chlorine
C) Potassium
D) Calcium
42. Wilting in plants, even in moist soil, can be a symptom of a deficiency in:
A) Calcium
B) Potassium
C) Magnesium
D) Phosphorus
43. Which micronutrient plays a crucial role in nitrogen metabolism and is a component of nitrate reductase and nitrogenase enzymes?
A) Copper
B) Molybdenum
C) Manganese
D) Iron
44. A deficiency of Phosphorus (P) in plants typically leads to:
A) Stunted root development
B) Thickening of cell walls
C) Excessive vegetative growth
D) Early flowering and fruiting
45. Nitrogen is a constituent of:
A) Carbohydrates and lipids
B) Proteins and nucleic acids
C) Vitamins and hormones
D) Cellulose and lignin
46. Which of the following is a function of Boron (B) in plants?
A) Electron transport chain
B) Cell wall synthesis and membrane function
C) Nitrogen fixation
D) Enzyme cofactor for photosynthesis
47. Necrosis, the death of plant tissue, is often a symptom of deficiency in which nutrient?
A) Calcium
B) Potassium
C) Nitrogen
D) Sulfur
48. Which micronutrient is essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll and is also involved in enzyme activation?
A) Iron
B) Manganese
C) Magnesium
D) Zinc
49. Chlorosis, a yellowing of leaves, is a common deficiency symptom associated with which mineral nutrient?
A) Potassium
B) Magnesium
C) Phosphorus
D) Sulfur
50. Potassium (K+) is absorbed by plants primarily through:
A) Active transport
B) Facilitated diffusion
C) Simple diffusion
D) Endocytosis