In a plant, ______ is present in the middle lamella, primary cell and secondary walls and accumulates in the initial stages of development during cell expansion.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC CGL 2023 Tier-I Official Paper (Held On: 19 Jul 2023 Shift 3)

Answer 1

The correct answer is pectin.

Key Points

Pectin:-
- Pectin is a complex carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants, particularly in fruits.
- It is a type of soluble fiber and plays a significant role in giving structure and texture to various fruits and vegetables.
- Pectin is responsible for the gel-like consistency in jams, jellies, and other fruit preserves. It is widely used in the food industry as a gelling agent, thickener, and stabilizer.
- In a plant, pectin is present in the middle lamella, primary cell and secondary walls and accumulates in the initial stages of development during cell expansion.

Additional Information

Chitin:-
- It is a natural biopolymer found in the cell walls of fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods (such as insects, spiders, and crustaceans), and some other invertebrate organisms.
- It is chemically composed of long chains of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) molecules linked together.
- Chitin is closely related to another biopolymer called chitosan, which is derived from chitin through a deacetylation process.
Gelatin:-
- It is a protein derived from collagen, which is a natural protein found in the connective tissues, bones, and skin of animals, primarily cows, pigs, and sometimes fish.
- It's a widely used ingredient in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries due to its unique gelling, thickening, and binding properties.
- Gelatin is known for its ability to form a gel-like substance when mixed with water and heated, and it has various applications:
Alginate:-
- It is a natural polysaccharide extracted from various types of brown seaweed, also known as brown algae.
- It's a hydrocolloid, meaning it can absorb and hold water, forming gels and providing texture to a variety of products.
- Alginate has numerous applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors, thanks to its gelling, thickening, stabilizing, and film-forming properties.