NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The gum swells by absorbing water and helps in the healing of damaged parts of a plant. Gums are economically valuable and used as adhesives and binding agents in the preparation of the medicines, food, etc. Latex: Latex is a sticky, milky white substance secreted by plants.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gum and resin collection was the third most important livelihood option in the study area following animal husbandry and crop and honey production. The majority (84%) of respondents recognized the income made from gum-resin products as a safety net during recurring famine eras.

Detailed explanation-3: -They are used in many unrelated industries such as paper, textile, petroleum, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, varnishes, lacquers and soaps. Even though gum is produced by a large number of plants, their commercial exploitation is restricted to members of the Leguminosae, Sterculiaceae and Combretaceae.

Detailed explanation-4: -Resins are a mixture of organic compounds mainly composed of terpenes. Gums are made of polysaccharides and their derivatives. They are soluble in various organic liquids but not in water. They are water-soluble or rather absorb water well.

Detailed explanation-5: -The important gum yielding trees are Acacia nilotica (babul), A catechu (khair), Steruculia urens (kullu), Anogeissus latifolia (dhawra), Butea monosperma (palas), Bauhinia retusa (semal), Lannea coromandelica (lendia) and Azadirachta indica (neem).