Most parasitic plants like other land plants have mycorrhizal symbionts.

Question

Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Answer 1

False

Clarify Question
• What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question is asking about the way parasitic plants obtain nutrients.
• What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply it to the parasitic life style of some plants.
• What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Parasitic, which is the relationship by which one organism draws it nutrients from another.
        o Mycorrhizae, which are fungi that aid plants the uptake of phosphorus.
        o Symbionts, which are organisms that coexist.

Gather Content
• What do you already know about how parasitic plants obtain nutrients? How does it relate to the question?
        o Parasitic plants do not undergo photosynthesis.
        o Many parasitic plants lack roots and leaves.
        o Parasitic plants obtain their nutrients from other organisms.
        o Mycorrhizal fungi aid 90% of vascular plants with phosphorus and nutrient uptake.

Consider Possibilities
• What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Mycorrhizae would not benefit parasitic plants, as nutrients are obtained from host species.

Choose Answer
• Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
       o Since parasitic plants do not depend on nutrient uptake through the soil, an association with mycorrhizae would not be beneficial.

Reflect on Process
• Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
• Apply level:
       o This question asked you to understand nutrient uptake in parasitic plants. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to recognize the role of mycorrhizal fungi in a new situation. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you remember that parasites do not undergo photosynthesis, and that do not take up nutrients from the soil? Did you have trouble extending concept the relationship between parasitism and nutrient uptake to determine the correct answer?