Browse by Stream
QnA
Home
QnA
Go To Your Study Dashboard

Get Answers to all your Questions

header-bg qa
  • Home
  • NCERT
  • If the tip of sugarcane plant is removed from the field, even then it keeps on growing in length. It is due to the presence of (a) cambium (b) apical meristem (c) lateral meristem (d) intercalary meristem

If the tip of sugarcane plant is removed from the field, even then it keeps on growing in length. It is due to the presence of
(a) cambium
(b) apical meristem
(c) lateral meristem
(d) intercalary meristem

 

Answers (1)

Plant growth is facilitated by meristematic tissues, which drive both primary and secondary growth. Primary growth, responsible for height increase, is controlled by the apical meristem located at the tips of roots and shoots, enabling roots to grow deeper into the soil and shoots to extend upward to capture sunlight. In contrast, secondary growth, which enhances the plant's thickness or girth, is managed by the lateral meristem in the vascular cambium and cork cambium. This type of growth adds layers of vascular tissue and thickens the trunk, branches, and roots.

When a nail is inserted into the trunk of a tree at a height of 1 meter, it remains fixed at the same level over the years because the elongation of the trunk occurs only at the apical meristem, located at the tips, not in the middle of the trunk. As the tree grows, the nail does not move upward. However, the lateral meristem contributes to the thickening of the trunk, causing it to grow wider around the nail without changing its vertical position.

This demonstrates the localized nature of plant growth, where the apical meristem is responsible for vertical elongation, while lateral meristems increase the girth. As a result, the tree’s height increases, and its trunk thickens, but the nail stays at its original height within the expanding trunk.

The correct option is – (d) intercalary meristem

Posted by

infoexpert27

View full answer

Similar Questions

Latest Question