Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because

Correct Answer: C) Most of the root hairs are lost during transplantation

Explanation: Transplantation is a stressful process for seedlings. The most significant issue is the loss of root hairs. Root hairs are extremely delicate, single-celled extensions of root epidermal cells. They are primarily responsible for absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. When a seedling is transplanted, a large proportion of these root hairs are inevitably damaged or lost during the uprooting and replanting process. This drastically reduces the seedling's ability to absorb water and nutrients, leading to transplant shock and often, failure to establish.

Why other options are incorrect:

A) The new soil does not contain favourable minerals: While soil quality is important, it's less immediately critical than the ability to absorb nutrients. Seedlings can survive temporarily in less-than-ideal soil if they have a functional root system.

B) Most of the root hairs grip the new soil too hard: Root hairs don't 'grip' the soil; they penetrate between soil particles. Excessive gripping isn't a problem; the lack of root hairs is.

D) Leaves get damaged during transplantation: Leaf damage can contribute to stress, but the loss of root hairs is a far more critical factor. Plants can often recover from leaf damage, but severely compromised root function is much harder to overcome.