Outline: Plant Growth and Meristems

• Introduction

  • Plant growth is unique due to the presence of meristems.

  • Meristems allow for unlimited growth throughout a plant's life.

• Meristems in Plants

  • Meristems are located at specific points in the plant's body.

  • Cells in meristems have the ability to divide and perpetuate themselves.

• Cell Differentiation

  • Once cells leave the meristem, they lose the ability to divide.

  • These cells then contribute to the overall structure of the plant.

• Open Form of Growth

  • New cells are continually added to the plant body.

  • This process is driven by the activity of meristems.

• Conclusion

  • The open form of growth in plants allows for continuous expansion and development.

  • Meristems play a crucial role in maintaining the growth potential of plants.

Outline: What Happens if the Meristem Ceases to Divide?

I. Introduction

• Definition of meristem

• Importance of meristem in plant growth

II. Primary Growth by Root and Shoot Apical Meristem

• Role of root apical meristem in primary growth

• Role of shoot apical meristem in primary growth

• Contribution to elongation of plants

III. Secondary Growth by Lateral Meristems

• Introduction to vascular cambium and cork cambium

• Function of lateral meristems in increasing organ girth

• Concept of secondary growth in plants

IV. Consequences of Meristem Ceasing to Divide

• Stunted growth and lack of elongation

• Inability to increase organ girth

• Impact on overall plant development

V. Occurrence of Meristem Ceasing to Divide

• Rare occurrence due to plant survival mechanisms

• Environmental stressors leading to meristem dormancy

• Examples of conditions causing meristem cessation

VI. Conclusion

• Summary of the importance of meristem division

• Implications of meristem ceasing to divide

• Overall significance in plant growth and development

Plant growth is unique because plants retain the capacity for unlimited growth throughout their life. This ability of the plants is due to the presence of meristems at certain locations in their body. The cells of such meristem shave the capacity to divide and self-perpetuate. The product, however ,soon loses the capacity to divide and such cells make up the plant body.This form of growth wherein new cells are always being added to the plant body by the activity of the meristem is called the open form of growth.What would happen if the meristem ceases to divide? Does this ever happen?In Chapter 6, you have studied about the root apical meristem and the shoot apical meristem. You know that they are responsible for primary growth of the plants and principally contribute to the elongation of the plants along their axis. You also know that in dicotyledonous plants and gymnosperms, the lateral meristems ,vascular cambium and cork-cambium appear later in life. These are the meristems that cause the increase in the girth of the organs in which they are active. This is known as secondary growth of the plant