Question

On germination a seed first produces shoot with leaves, flowers appear later.

a. Why do you think this happens?

b. How is this advantageous to the plant?

Answer 1

a. Vegetative phase:

• The phase that involves the growth and development of the plant body like the development of shoots, roots, leaves is called vegetative phase.
• This phase occurs before the plants attain a stage of maturity that is before their reproductive phase.
• To reproduce, all organisms have to reach a certain stage of growth and maturity in their life. The vegetative phase acts as a preparatory phase in the plants before they attain sexual maturity.
• During this phase, a flowering hormone called florigen is synthesized in plants which induces flowering.

b. Advantages of vegetative phase:

The vegetative phase allows the plant to:

• Grow
• Develop
• Attain maturity
• Build resources to be utilised during the flowering period

As a result, the plant is able to optimise resources so that reproductive structures like flowers can be produced after the attainment of reproductive maturity.