The primary reason surplus carbohydrates in plants are stored as starch is because:
A)they would otherwise be utilized as energy sources even if such energy were not needed at that time.
B)the space they occupy as carbohydrates is needed for other macromolecules.
C)energy is needed in the nucleus, and only starch is capable of being transported into the nucleus.
D)if they were left as individual monosaccharides, water would enter the cell by osmosis.
E)All of these choices represent equally important reasons why surplus carbohydrates in plants are stored as starch.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Storing surplus carbohydrates as starch helps prevent the osmotic influx of water that would occur if these molecules were left as individual monosaccharides. This is because starch, being a large polymer, does not freely move across cell membranes, thus not affecting the osmotic balance within the cell.

The Primary Reason Surplus Carbohydrates in Plants Are Stored as Starch