Xerophytes minimize water loss by

Options

A. using the CAM pathway
B. reducing the thickness of the leaf cutile
C. having leaves with a large surface-to-volume ratio
D. having scotoactive type stomata

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Xerophytes**: Xerophytes are plants adapted to survive in environments with limited water availability. They have developed various mechanisms to minimize water loss.

2. **CAM Pathway**: One of the adaptations seen in some xerophytes is the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) pathway. This process allows plants to fix carbon dioxide at night when temperatures are cooler, thus reducing water loss during the hotter daytime. However, it is important to note that while the CAM pathway helps in photosynthesis, it is not the primary mechanism for minimizing water loss.

3. **Leaf Cuticle Thickness**: The cuticle is a waxy layer that covers the leaves and stems of plants. A thicker cuticle helps reduce water loss by providing a barrier to evaporation. Therefore, reducing the thickness of the leaf cuticle would actually increase water loss, making this option incorrect.

4. **Surface Area to Volume Ratio**: Having leaves with a large surface area to volume ratio would increase the potential for water loss through transpiration. Therefore, this adaptation does not help in minimizing water loss and is not a characteristic of xerophytes.

5. **Scotoactive Stomata**: Xerophytes often have scotoactive stomata, which are stomata that open during the night. This adaptation allows for gas exchange (CO2 uptake) when temperatures are cooler and humidity is higher, thus minimizing water loss during the hotter daytime when stomata are closed.

6. **Conclusion**: The correct adaptation that xerophytes utilize to minimize water loss is having scotoactive stomata.

**Final Answer**: Xerophytes minimize water loss by having scotoactive stomata.

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