When secondary growth is initiated in a dicot root, which of the following happens first?
Anticlinal division occurs so that cambium becomes circular
Parenchyma just below phloem becomes meristematic
Cambium initial between lateral sides of xylem and phloem divides
Pericycle strands outside primary xylem divide
The parenchyma cells present between xylem and phloem elements in the vascular bundles constitute conjunctive tissue. The parenchymatous cells present beneath phloem take on meristematic activity and then divide to form cambial strands. This is followed by periclinal division of the cells of pericycle present against protoxylem to form multiple layers of cells, which are joined by cambial cells derived from conjunctive tissues and together they make a complete cambium ring.Hence, the correct answer is option 4.