Assignment task:
Many plants can produce the toxic compound hydrogen cyanide in response to tissue damage by herbivores. For example, lima bean plants can produce hydrogen cyanide in response to beetles chewing on their leaves. A group of scientists studied how this type of herbivory response in plants is affected by soil salinity. To do this, the scientists grew groups of genetically identical lima bean plants under two different conditions: normal soil salinity and high soil salinity. An equal number of beetles were allowed to feed on each group of plants, and the scientists measured the resulting release of hydrogen cyanide. The table below summarizes the results of the study. Condition Hydrogen cyanide production Normal soil salinity Normal High soil salinity High Which of the following is the best interpretation of the experimental results? Choose 1 answer: Choose 1 answer: (Choice A) Environmental conditions determined the genotypes of the plants in each group, causing one group to produce more hydrogen cyanide than the other. A Environmental conditions determined the genotypes of the plants in each group, causing one group to produce more hydrogen cyanide than the other. (Choice B) Different soil salinities affected the plants' gene expression patterns and their resulting hydrogen cyanide production phenotypes. B Different soil salinities affected the plants' gene expression patterns and their resulting hydrogen cyanide production phenotypes. (Choice C) The group of plants grown in saline soil had more beetles feeding on them, which caused them to produce more hydrogen cyanide than plants grown in normal soil. C The group of plants grown in saline soil had more beetles feeding on them, which caused them to produce more hydrogen cyanide than plants grown in normal soil.