Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because

The correct answer is C. Root hairs are thin, short-lived extensions of root epidermal cells, and they are the main site where a plant absorbs water and minerals. When a seedling is lifted from the nursery, most of these fragile hairs are torn off or left behind in the soil. The shoot keeps transpiring, but the root system can no longer supply water fast enough, so the seedling wilts and stalls. This is why transplanting is done in the evening or on a cloudy day, and why roots are kept moist.

Option A is wrong because a seedling's immediate failure comes from its inability to absorb water, not from mineral deficiency, which shows up only over weeks. Option B is wrong because root hairs do not grip soil too hard; they are fragile and get damaged, not over-attached. Option D is partly true, since damaged leaves increase water loss, but it is not the root-level cause the question targets.

The core concept is the root-shoot water balance and the absorptive surface of roots. This connects to Mains questions on dryland agriculture, afforestation survival rates and nursery practices.

Trap: choosing D because damaged leaves look like the obvious problem, when the question is about the root system.