Plant Growth and Meristems

Vocabulary flashcards covering meristematic cells, determinate versus indeterminate growth, primary versus secondary growth, and plant meristem types based on lecture notes.

Meristematic cells

Plant cells located in root and shoot regions that divide endlessly without aging, allowing plants to continually grow new structures throughout adulthood.

Senescence (in animal growth)

A biological process characteristic of determinate growth in animals where adult cells eventually stop dividing and undergo aging or destruction.

Indeterminate growth

A type of growth that does not stop based on age or size, allowing plants to continually produce new vegetative structures and adapt to their environment throughout their life.

Determinate growth

A growth pattern where growth terminates once an organism reaches adulthood or a predetermined size and genetic limit.

Primary growth

Growth in the length of the root and shoot axes that causes plants to grow taller and deeper, mediated by apical meristems.

Secondary growth

Growth in the width or girth of roots and stems, mediated by lateral meristems.

Apical meristem

Meristematic tissue located at the tips of roots and shoots responsible for driving primary growth in length.

Lateral meristem (Cambium)

Meristematic tissue, including cork cambium and wood cambium, that covers stems and roots to produce secondary growth in width, bark, and structural wood.

Shoot apical meristem (SAM)

The apical meristem located at the shoot tip responsible for upward growth, budding, branching, and maintaining active meristematic cells.

Root apical meristem

The apical meristem located at the tip of the root responsible for primary elongation of root axes.