Q. Leguminous plants are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through the process of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Which one of the following statements is not correct during this process of nitrogen fixation?
A) Leghaemoglobin scavenges oxygen and is pinkish in colour
B) Nodules act as sites for nitrogen fixation
C) The enzyme nitrogenase catalyses the conversion of atmospheric N₂ to NH₃
D) Nitrogenase is insensitive to oxygen
Explanation
[Solution from source] Nitrogenase is highly sensitive to oxygen, which inactivates it; that is exactly why root nodules contain the pink pigment leghaemoglobin, which binds and removes oxygen. The other statements are correct: nodules are the sites of fixation and nitrogenase reduces N₂ to NH₃. Answer (4).
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.