Meristematic tissues, or simply meristems, are tissues in which the cells remain forever young and divide actively throughout the life of the plant. A plant has four kinds of meristems: the apical meristem and three kinds of lateral—vascular cambium, cork cambium, and intercalary meristem.
what is the role of meristems in plants?
The apical meristem, also known as the “growing tip,” is an undifferentiated meristematic tissue found in the buds and growing tips of roots in plants. Its main function is to trigger the growth of new cells in young seedlings at the tips of roots and shoots and forming buds.
what are the 3 types of meristems?
There are three types of meristematic tissues: apical (at the tips), intercalary (in the middle) and lateral (at the sides). At the meristem summit, there is a small group of slowly dividing cells, which is commonly called the central zone.
where is the meristem in a plant?
Meristems are classified by their location in the plant as apical (located at root and shoot tips), lateral (in the vascular and cork cambia), and intercalary (at internodes, or stem regions between the places at which leaves attach, and leaf bases, especially of certain monocotyledons—e.g., grasses).
What is the apical meristem of a plant?
Apical meristem is a region of rapidly-dividing cells found at a plant’s root and shoot tips. Division of these cells always results in primary (vertical) growth, both at the root and shoot. This type of tissue is undifferentiated.
How many meristems does a plant have?
Meristematic cells are generally small and cuboidal with large nuclei, small vacuoles, and thin walls. A plant has four kinds of meristems: the apical meristem and three kinds of lateral—vascular cambium, cork cambium, and intercalary meristem. You may also read, What are merit goods?
What is ground tissue in plants?
The ground tissue of plants includes all tissues that are neither dermal nor vascular. It can be divided into three types based on the nature of the cell walls. Parenchyma cells have thin primary walls and usually remain alive after they become mature. Sclerenchyma provides the main structural support to a plant. Check the answer of What are meritocratic principles?
Why is meristematic tissue so important to a plant?
Primary meristematic tissue helps the plant increase in length or vertical growth, meaning it helps the plant grow up toward the sun and down into the soil. Secondary meristematic tissue helps the plant increase the girth or lateral growth of its stems, branches, and roots.
What is a plant organ?
Tissues are further arranged or combined into organs that carry out life functions of the organism. Plant organs include the leaf, stem, root, and reproductive structures. The first three are sometimes called the vegetative organs and are the subject of exploration in this chapter. Read: What are merits of media?
What are intercalary meristems?
Definition of intercalary meristem. : a meristem developing between regions of mature or permanent tissue (as at the base of the grass leaf) — compare apical meristem, lateral meristem.
What is meristematic activity?
The activity of meristems. The procambium is a meristematic tissue concerned with providing the primary tissues of the vascular system; the cambium proper is the continuous cylinder of meristematic cells responsible for producing the new vascular tissues in mature stems and roots.
What is the difference between primary and secondary growth?
The increase in length of the shoot and the root is referred to as primary growth. It is the result of cell division in the shoot apical meristem . Secondary growth is characterized by an increase in thickness or girth of the plant. It is caused by cell division in the lateral meristem .
Why do plant meristems contain ribosomes?
Meristems are cells that are constantly dividing and giving rise to new cells. They can be thought of stem cells in plants. Ribosomes are the main cell organelle required for protein synthesis. The reason why ribosomes are abundant in meristematic cells is because they are required there.
What is cambium cells?
Cambium, plural Cambiums, orCambia, in plants, layer of actively dividing cells between xylem (wood) and phloem (bast) tissues that is responsible for the secondary growth of stems and roots (secondary growth occurs after the first season and results in increase in thickness).
What are intercalary meristems how do they differ from other meristems?
… plants, especially grasses, is the intercalary meristem. These cells possess the ability to divide and produce new cells, as do apical and lateral meristems. They differ, however, in being situated between regions of mature tissue, such as at the base of grass leaves, which are themselves located on mature stem…
