Question

Summit of shoot apical meristem shows maximum activity during the formation of

• A. Individual leaves
• B. Whorl of leaves
• C. Floral bud
• D. Prior to undergoing dormancy

Answer 1

The correct option is A Individual leaves

• The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is that part of the shoot which is composed of meristematic cells.
• The vegetative shoot apex consists of two regions i.e, summit and flank.

1. Summit- The rate of division is slow and it is located at the apex.
2. Flank- The rate of division is very fast and it lies behind the summit.

• The cells at the summit of shoot apical meristem act as the stem cells to the surrounding peripheral region.
• The growth rates at the meristem summit are different from the cells at the periphery.
• At the peripheral zone, new lateral organs are formed i.e, a restricted number of cells proliferates and grows which results in the formation of outgrowing leaf primordium.
• Thus, they show maximum activity during the formation of leaf primordium.
• So, the correct answer is 'Individual leaves'.