In India, cluster bean (Guar) is traditionally used as a vegetable or animal feed, but recently the cultivation of this has assumed significance. Which one of the following statements is correct in this context?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) The oil extracted from seeds is used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics
(b) The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas
(c) The leaf extract of this plant has the properties of anti-histamines
(d) It is a source of high quality biodiesel
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
- Cluster bean, also known as Guar, is an indigenous crop of India that thrives in hot, arid, and dry regions.
- It is a valuable source of Guar gum, a substance derived from the seeds of the leguminous plant. Guar has been traditionally consumed as animal feed or a vegetable.
- Nowadays, the gum extracted from its seeds is utilized in the extraction of shale gas due to its stabilizing, thickening, and suspending properties in drilling fluids.
- Notably, India is the largest global producer of Guar.
