Plants do not store carbohydrates as glucose because it

Options

A. dissolve in water thereby altering the osmotic balance
B. attrack insect herbiovres
C. is an unstable molecule
D. would replace ribose in DNA synthesis

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Storage of Carbohydrates in Plants**:
- Plants produce carbohydrates during photosynthesis, primarily in the form of glucose. However, they do not store glucose directly.

2. **Reason for Not Storing Glucose**:
- Glucose is highly soluble in water. When stored in large quantities, it can affect the osmotic balance within the plant cells.

3. **Impact of Osmotic Balance**:
- If glucose were to accumulate, it would lead to an increase in osmotic pressure. This change could disrupt the plant's ability to regulate water movement, which is crucial for processes like stomatal opening and closing.

4. **Consequences of High Glucose Concentration**:
- An excessive concentration of glucose could lead to the plant experiencing issues with water retention and loss, potentially causing the stomata to malfunction. This could hinder the plant's ability to perform essential functions, such as gas exchange.

5. **Alternative Storage Forms**:
- Instead of storing glucose, plants convert it into starch, which is a polysaccharide. Starch is less soluble in water, thus maintaining osmotic balance and preventing excessive pressure changes within the plant cells.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The primary reason plants do not store carbohydrates as glucose is that it dissolves in water, altering the osmotic balance and potentially disrupting vital physiological processes.