Heaping of earth around base of stem in Potato is meant for

Options

A. Preventing exposure of roots
B. Providing extra support to delicate stem
C. Inducing development of more auxiliary shoots
D. Making more water availabel.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Structure of Potato**:
- Potatoes are modified stems known as tubers. They grow underground and store reserve food.
- The potato plant has a stem that bears nodes and internodes, where leaves, branches, and flowers can grow.

2. **Definition of Heaping**:
- Heaping refers to the practice of molding or piling soil around the base of the potato stem.

3. **Purpose of Heaping**:
- The heaping of earth around the base of the stem serves multiple purposes, but we need to identify the primary reason.
- The options given are:
- Preventing exposure of roots
- Providing extra support to delicate stem
- Inducing development of more axillary shoots
- Making more water available

4. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Preventing exposure of roots**: While this may help protect roots, it is not the primary purpose.
- **Providing extra support to delicate stem**: This is somewhat true, but not the main reason for heaping.
- **Inducing development of more axillary shoots**: This is a key function of heaping. By covering the stem, it encourages the growth of more shoots, which can lead to the development of additional tubers.
- **Making more water available**: While heaping can help retain moisture, it is not the primary reason for this practice.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The main purpose of heaping earth around the base of the stem in potatoes is to **induce the development of more axillary shoots**. This allows for the potential growth of more tubers.

6. **Final Answer**:
- The correct answer is **inducing development of more axillary shoots**.

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