Wheat crops vs Nicrobacter
Nitrobacter, a bacteria living in the roots of bean plants or other legumes, produces fixed nitrogen which is one of the essential plant nutrients and which for non-legume crops, such as wheat, normally, must be supplied by applications of nitrogen-based fertilizer. So if biotechnology succeeds in producing wheat strains whose roots will play host to Nitrobacter, the need for artificial fertilizers will be reduced.
The argument above makes which one of the following assumptions?
- Biotechnology should be directed toward producing plants that do not require artificial fertilizer.
- Fixed nitrogen is currently the only soil nutrient that must be supplied by artificial fertilizer for growing wheat crops.
- There are no naturally occurring strains of wheat or other grasses that have Nitrobacter living in their roots.
- Legumes are currently the only crops that produce their own supply of fixed nitrogen.
- Nitrobacter living in the roots of wheat would produce fixed nitrogen.
Can you please help me understand why Option B is wrong? Conclusion says – if Nicrobacter is used for wheat crops, then need for artificial fertilizers will be reduced. When I negate B, it means that artificial fertilizers also supply other soil nutrients which are necessary for growing wheat crops. This certainly weaken the conclusion. I do like E but in my opinion B stands better chance.
Thanks,
NIkunj
Read the conclusion properly. It talks about the need for artificial fertilizer being REDUCED.
negating option B does not affect the conclusion.