Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements.
Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.
In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels.
Which of the statement(s) given above are correct?
1, 2, 4 and 5
3, 4 and 5
1, 3 and 4
1, 2, 3 and 5
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is incorrect
The scientific name of moringa or drumstick tree is Moringa oleifera.
It belongs to the family Moringaceae, not to the leguminous family Fabaceae or Leguminosae.
Moringa produces a long, pod-like fruit, but the presence of a pod-like fruit does not make it a member of the legume family.
Depending upon climate and water availability, moringa may display deciduous to evergreen behaviour. Therefore, it cannot universally be described as a leguminous evergreen tree.
The decisive error in the statement is its description as leguminous.
Statement 2 is incorrect
The scientific name of tamarind is Tamarindus indica.
Despite the term indica in its name, it is generally considered to have originated in tropical Africa and the Madagascar region.
Owing to its cultivation since ancient times, it has become widely naturalised in India and South Asia.
An endemic species is naturally restricted to a particular geographical region. Tamarind is not restricted to South Asia.
Therefore, describing it as endemic to South Asia is incorrect.
Statement 3 is correct
A substantial part of India’s tamarind supply is collected from forests, forest-fringe areas and trees outside organised orchards.
Tamarind is classified as an important Minor Forest Produce—MFP.
Its collection provides income and livelihood support to tribal and forest-dwelling communities.
Tamarind is also included under TRIFED’s Minimum Support Price mechanism for minor forest produce.
Statement 4 is correct
India exports tamarind and processed tamarind products to several countries.
Major importing countries have included Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Germany.
Moringa seeds, leaf powder, oil and other moringa products are also exported from India.
Moringa seeds are demanded for cultivation, oil extraction, nutritional products and water-treatment applications.
Statement 5 is correct
Moringa seeds contain oil that can be converted into biodiesel through transesterification.
Oil can also be extracted from tamarind seeds or kernels and has potential application in biofuel production.
In transesterification, triglycerides in vegetable oil generally react with an alcohol such as methanol to form fatty acid methyl esters, the principal component of biodiesel.
Therefore, the seeds of both trees represent potential non-conventional oilseed sources for biofuel production.
Hence, Statements 3, 4 and 5 are correct.