Question

Refer the given figure showing plant meristem and select the incorrect option.

• A. If part X is removed, side branches will grow well and plant will become short and bushy in appearance.
• B. If part X is removed, inter node elongation will not occur and leaves and flowers will not be produced at all.
• C. If part Z is removed, a mango tree stem will remain as thin as a mustard plant.
• D. Both A and C.

Answer 1

The correct option is B If part X is removed, inter node elongation will not occur and leaves and flowers will not be produced at all.

Part X is apical meristem. It divides continuously to increase the height of the plant. If apical meristem is removed, the plant will become short and bushy in appearance and may also affect the flowering.
Y is intercalary meristem. Intercalary meristems occur only in monocot (in particular, grass) stems at the base of nodes and leaf blades. Intercalary meristems are capable of cell division, and they allow for rapid growth and regrowth of many monocots.
Z is lateral meristem. Lateral, meristems, which are found in all woody plants and in some herbaceous ones, consist of the vascular cambium and the cork cambium. They produce secondary tissues from a ring of vascular cambium in stems and roots.