The respiratory Quotient(RQ) of a germinating castor seed is

Options

A. Equal to one
B. Greater then one
C. Less than one
D. Equal to zero

Answer

To determine the respiratory quotient (RQ) of a germinating castor seed, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Definition of RQ**:
The respiratory quotient (RQ) is defined as the ratio of the volume of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced to the volume of oxygen (O2) consumed during respiration. Mathematically, it is expressed as:
\[ RQ = \frac{\text{Volume of CO2 produced}}{\text{Volume of O2 consumed}} \]

2. **Identify the Type of Respiration**:
In the case of germinating seeds, particularly castor seeds, the primary respiratory substrates are fats. This is important because the type of substrate used in respiration influences the RQ value.

3. **Determine the RQ Value for Fats**:
When fats are metabolized, they typically yield more oxygen consumed than carbon dioxide produced. This results in an RQ value that is less than 1.

4. **Conclusion**:
Since the germinating castor seed primarily utilizes fats for respiration, its RQ will be less than 1. Therefore, we can conclude that the RQ of a germinating castor seed is less than 1.

5. **Select the Correct Option**:
Based on the analysis, the correct answer is that the RQ of a germinating castor seed is less than 1.

### Final Answer:
The respiratory quotient (RQ) of a germinating castor seed is **less than 1**.

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