[Campbell Biology P.641] Refer to the "Rhizobium strain" and "Plant mass g " data table. Bas... | Practice Question

Refer to the "Rhizobium strain" and "Plant mass g " data table. Based on the data provided for Acacia irrorata plants infected by different Rhizobium strains over 12 weeks, which conclusion is best supported?

  • A: All Rhizobium strains enhance plant growth compared to uninfected plants.
  • B: Rhizobium strain 4 is the most effective at promoting Acacia irrorata growth.
  • C: Rhizobium strain 2 demonstrates a mutualistic relationship identical in effectiveness to strain 1.
  • D: The effectiveness of Rhizobium strains is unrelated to their ability to fix nitrogen.

Explanation

By comparing the plant masses for each Rhizobium strain, strain 4 resulted in the highest plant mass of 1.72g. This is significantly higher than all other strains and the uninfected plant mass of approximately 0.1g, indicating that strain 4 is the most effective at promoting Acacia irrorata growth among the tested strains.