Some experiments were carried out using Croton sp. plants to understand the process of photosynthesis. It was observed that the leaves of the plant exposed to light for longer duration accumulated more starch. However, due to presence of pre-formed starch in the leaves, it was difficult to find the net productivity on a fixed exposure to light source. Therefore, it was necessary to obtain starch free leaves in the plant before starting the experiment.
Some of the starch free leaves were coated with wax on both the surfaces. The plant was maintained under normal environmental conditions. At the end of the experiment, the wax coated leaves are likely to show _________.

Options

A. Accumulation of more water.
B. Wilting of the wax coated leaves.
C. Increase in sucrose accumulation.
D. Decrease in number of chloroplasts

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the effects of coating leaves with wax on both surfaces, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Photosynthesis**: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, including Croton sp., convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, which can later be converted into starch.

2. **Starch Accumulation**: The question mentions that leaves exposed to light for a longer duration accumulate more starch. This indicates that photosynthesis is occurring, leading to the production of glucose and its conversion into starch.

3. **Need for Starch-Free Leaves**: To accurately measure the net productivity of photosynthesis, it is necessary to start with starch-free leaves. This ensures that any starch detected after the experiment is a result of the photosynthesis occurring during the experiment.

4. **Wax Coating on Leaves**: The leaves were coated with wax on both surfaces. Wax is a hydrophobic substance, which means it prevents water and gases from passing through. This coating will inhibit transpiration (the loss of water vapor from the leaf surface) and gas exchange (the uptake of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen).

5. **Effects of Wax Coating**: Since transpiration is blocked, the plant will not be able to lose water effectively. This can lead to wilting, as the plant cells lose turgor pressure due to lack of water. Without the ability to exchange gases, the process of photosynthesis will also be hindered, but the immediate observable effect will be wilting.

6. **Conclusion**: At the end of the experiment, the wax-coated leaves are likely to show wilting due to the inability to transpire and maintain water balance.

### Final Answer:
The wax-coated leaves are likely to show **wilting**.

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