Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Sclerenchyma cells are dead and usually lack protoplasts at maturity. Reason (R): They possess highly thickened walls with abundant lignin deposition and very narrow lumens. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true because sclerenchyma cells are typically dead at maturity and do not contain living protoplasts. Reason (R) is true and correctly explains the Assertion. The heavy deposition of impermeable lignin on the cell walls makes them highly thickened and severely reduces the lumen size. This extensive lignification prevents the exchange of water and nutrients, inevitably leading to the death of the protoplast as the cell matures. Answer: Both Assertion and Reason are true and Reason is the correct exp