Which statement about drought tolerance is true?

Which statement about drought tolerance is true?

• A. The drought tolerance of tall fescue is attributed to its deep root system.
• B. Drought tolerance is due to leaf thickness.
• C. Tall fescue has no drought tolerance.
• D. All grasses have identical drought tolerance.

Answer: (A)

Drought tolerance hinges on a plant’s ability to access water during dry periods, and tall fescue does this well because it develops a deep, extensive root system that reaches moisture down deeper in the soil. That deep rooting lets it take up water when surface soil is dry, helping it stay productive longer than grasses with shallower roots. Leaf thickness can influence water loss, but it’s not the main factor here for tall fescue’s drought performance. It’s also not true that all grasses share the same level of drought tolerance—their rooting depth and strategies vary, leading to different abilities to cope with drought. So the best answer points to the deep root system as the key driver of tall fescue’s drought tolerance.

Drought tolerance hinges on a plant’s ability to access water during dry periods, and tall fescue does this well because it develops a deep, extensive root system that reaches moisture down deeper in the soil. That deep rooting lets it take up water when surface soil is dry, helping it stay productive longer than grasses with shallower roots. Leaf thickness can influence water loss, but it’s not the main factor here for tall fescue’s drought performance. It’s also not true that all grasses share the same level of drought tolerance—their rooting depth and strategies vary, leading to different abilities to cope with drought. So the best answer points to the deep root system as the key driver of tall fescue’s drought tolerance.