Question 14

   Question: Consider the following plant tissues: (A) Axillary buds, (B) Fascicular vascular cambium, (C) Interfascicular cambium, (D) Cork cambium, (E) Intercalary meristem. Identify the lateral meristems among the above.

   Options:

    A. (A), (C) and (D) only

    B. (B), (C) and (D) only

    C. (A), (B), (C) and (E) only

    D. (A), (B), (D) and (E) only

   Correct Answer: B

   Year: NEET 2023 mpr

   Solution: Lateral meristems are the meristems that add to the width or girth in a process known as secondary growth. Fascicular vascular cambium (B), Interfascicular cambium (C), and Cork cambium (D) are types of lateral meristems. Axillary buds (A) form branches or flowers, and intercalary meristem (E) is involved in primary growth and elongation.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define lateral meristems as tissues that increase the girth of the plant.

    2.  Identify fascicular vascular cambium as a lateral meristem contributing to secondary vascular tissues.

    3.  Identify interfascicular cambium as a lateral meristem contributing to secondary growth in the stem.

    4.  Identify cork cambium (phellogen) as a lateral meristem producing the periderm.

    5.  Exclude axillary buds and intercalary meristems as they are related to primary growth and branching.

   Difficulty Level: Medium

   Concept Name: Lateral Meristems

   Short cut solution: Identify the tissues responsible for secondary growth (B, C, D) and eliminate those responsible for primary growth or branching (A, E).

Question 21

   Question: Match List-I with List-II. List I:

   Options:

    A. (a)-(ii) b-(iv) c-(i) d-(iii)

    B. (a)-(iv) b-(iii) c-(ii) d-(i)

    C. (a)-(i) b-(ii) c-(iii) d-(iv)

    D. (a)-(iii) b-(ii) c-(iv) d-(i)

   Correct Answer: A

   Year: NEET 2021

   Solution: (a) Meristematic tissues have cells with active cell division capacity. (b) Simple tissues have all cells similar in structure and function. (c) Vascular tissues are complex and have different types of cells. (d) Sclereids are dead cells with thick walls and narrow lumen.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Match meristematic to active division (ii).

    2.  Match simple tissue to uniform cell structure (iv).

    3.  Match vascular tissue (complex) to diverse cell types (i).

    4.  Match sclereids to thick-walled dead cells (iii).

    5.  Combine the matches to find the correct sequence: (a-ii, b-iv, c-i, d-iii).

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Classification of Plant Tissues

   Short cut solution: Match the most obvious pair (Meristematic = active division) to narrow down the options.

Question 27

   Question: Regeneration of damaged growing grass following grazing is largely due to:

   Options:

    A. Secondary meristem

    B. Lateral meristem

    C. Apical meristem

    D. Intercalary meristem

   Correct Answer: D

   Year: 2019

   Solution: Intercalary meristems, found in grasses, help to regenerate parts removed by grazing herbivores. They are responsible for growth in length in the middle position, specifically at the base of nodes and leaf blades.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Identify grass as a plant that undergoes grazing.

    2.  Locate the tissue responsible for regrowth at the base of nodes.

    3.  Identify this tissue as intercalary meristem.

    4.  Confirm it allows for rapid growth and regeneration in monocots.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Intercalary Meristem

   Short cut solution: Keywords "grass" and "grazing" always point to intercalary meristem.

Question 49

   Question: Meristematic tissue responsible for increase in girth of tree trunk is:

   Options:

    A. intercalary meristem

    B. lateral meristem

    C. phellogen

    D. apical meristem.

   Correct Answer: B

   Year: KN NEET 2013

   Solution: Lateral meristems are present along the lateral sides of stem and roots. They divide in radial direction and are responsible for increase in girth of stem and roots. Examples include vascular cambium and cork cambium (phellogen).

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define increase in girth as radial growth.

    2.  Identify lateral meristems as the tissue located on the sides of stems.

    3.  Note that they divide periclinally or radially to increase diameter.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Lateral Meristem

   Short cut solution: Girth = Lateral growth.

Question 63

   Question: Which one of the following is not a lateral meristem?

   Options:

    A. Intrafascicular cambium

    B. Interfascicular cambium

    C. Phellogen

    D. Intercalary meristem

   Correct Answer: D

   Year: 2010

   Solution: Lateral meristems include vascular cambium (fascicular and interfascicular) and cork cambium (phellogen). Intercalary meristem is categorized separately based on its position (internodal).

   Step Solution:

    1.  List known lateral meristems: intrafascicular cambium, interfascicular cambium, and phellogen.

    2.  Recall that intercalary meristems are located at nodes/internodes for length, not girth.

    3.  Select the outlier (intercalary meristem).

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Types of Meristems

   Short cut solution: Elimination: A, B, and C are all involved in secondary growth/girth, while D is for primary growth/length.

Question 72

   Question: The length of different internodes in a culm of sugarcane is variable because of:

   Options:

    A. size of leaf lamina at the node below each internode

    B. intercalary meristem

    C. shoot apical meristem

    D. position of axillary buds.

   Correct Answer: B

   Year: 2008

   Solution: Intercalary meristems are internodal in position and found in the stems of grasses like sugarcane. They allow parts of the internode to mature at different rates, leading to variable lengths.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Identify sugarcane as a monocot grass with distinct nodes and internodes.

    2.  Locate the intercalary meristem at the base of the internodes.

    3.  Recognize its role in localized growth in length.

    4.  Note that differential maturation rates in these meristematic zones cause variable lengths.

   Difficulty Level: Medium

   Concept Name: Intercalary Meristem

   Short cut solution: Sugarcane internodes are always associated with intercalary meristem activity.

Question 75

   Question: In a woody dicotyledonous tree, which of the following parts will mainly consist of primary tissues?

   Options:

    A. All parts

    B. Stem and root

    C. Flowers, fruits and leaves

    D. Shoot tips and root tips

   Correct Answer: C

   Year: 2005

   Solution: Flowers, leaves, and fruits develop from the primary meristem (shoot apical meristem) and lack lateral meristems that cause secondary growth. Stems and roots contain cambium which produces secondary tissues.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define primary tissues as those derived from apical or intercalary meristems.

    2.  Identify that secondary growth (girth) happens in stems and roots via lateral meristems.

    3.  Note that flowers, leaves, and fruits are specialized appendages that do not undergo secondary growth.

    4.  Conclude these organs remain primarily composed of primary tissues.

   Difficulty Level: Hard

   Concept Name: Primary vs. Secondary Tissues

   Short cut solution: Find the parts that do not get thicker over time (flowers/leaves) versus those that do (stems/roots).

Question 77

   Question: The apical meristem of the root is present

   Options: 

    A. only in radicals

    B. only in tap roots

    C. only in adventitious roots

    D. in all the roots.

   Correct Answer: D

   Year: 2003

   Solution: (d): Parts of typical root : root cap, meristematic growing region, zone of elongation, root hair zone, zone of meriste-matic cells. Apical meristem is terminal in position and responsible for terminal growth of the plant. Apical meristem is present at all root tips and shoot tips.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define apical meristem as the tissue located at the growing tips of a plant.

    2.  Identify its primary function as terminal growth (increasing length).

    3.  Recognize that every root, regardless of type (radicle, tap, or adventitious), grows at its tip.

    4.  Conclude that apical meristem must be present in every growing root tip to facilitate this growth.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Apical Meristem

   Short cut solution: Tips = Growth. All roots grow at tips, so all roots have apical meristems.

Question 84

   Question: Axillary bud and terminal bud derived from the activity of

   Options: 

    A. lateral meristem

    B. intercalary meristem

    C. apical meristem

    D. parenchyma.

   Correct Answer: C

   Year: 2002

   Solution: (c) : Apical meristems are situated at the tips of the root and shoot. They take part in initial growth. Plants elongate and increase in height as a result of divisions in this meristem. Promeristem and primary meristem (root and shoot apices) are included in this type of meristem.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Identify the terminal bud as the active primary growing point at the shoot tip.

    2.  Identify axillary buds as pockets of meristematic tissue left behind by the moving shoot apex.

    3.  Recognize that the primary tissue at the shoot apex is the apical meristem.

    4.  Conclude that both bud types are products of apical meristematic activity.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Apical Meristem

   Short cut solution: Buds = Primary growth. Primary growth is the job of the apical meristem.

Question 97

   Question: Which of the following plant cells will show totipotency?

   Options: 

    A. Sieve tubes

    B. Xylem vessels

    C. Meristem

    D. Cork cells

   Correct Answer: C

   Year: 1993

   Solution: (c) : Meristems shows the totipotency because xylem vessels and cork cells are dead while sieve tube cells do not possess nuclei.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define totipotency as the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all the differentiated cells in an organism.

    2.  Evaluate Xylem vessels and Cork cells: they are dead at maturity and cannot divide.

    3.  Evaluate Sieve tubes: they are living but lack a nucleus at maturity, preventing them from directing growth.

    4.  Evaluate Meristem: these are living, nucleated, and actively dividing cells, making them capable of totipotency.

   Difficulty Level: Medium

   Concept Name: Totipotency in Plant Cells

   Short cut solution: Only living, nucleated, dividing cells (Meristems) can be totipotent.

Question 113

   Question: Monocot leaves possess

   Options: 

    A. intercalary meristem

    B. lateral meristem

    C. apical meristem

    D. mass meristem.

   Correct Answer: A

   Year: 1990

   Solution: (a) : Monocot leaves possess intercalary meristem. Intercalary meristem are responsible for localised growth. Perhaps they have been separated or detached from the mother meristem e . g., meristem present at the base of leaves in many monocots, in the internode of grasses, at the top of peduncles of Plantago and Taraxacum etc.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Recall that monocot leaves (like grasses) grow from the base rather than the tip.

    2.  Identify the specific meristem located at the base of leaves or internodes as the intercalary meristem.

    3.  Note that this tissue allows for rapid regrowth after grazing or cutting.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Intercalary Meristem

   Short cut solution: Monocots/Grasses = Intercalary meristem.

Question 114

   Question: Cork cambium and vascular cambium are

   Options: 

    A. parts of secondary xylem and phloem

    B. parts of pericycle

    C. lateral meristem

    D. apical meristem.

   Correct Answer: C

   Year: 1990

   Solution: (c) : Cork cambium and vascular cambium are lateral meristems. Both are responsible for the secondary growth of stem. It also increases the girth of stem.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define the function of cork cambium and vascular cambium as secondary growth.

    2.  Recall that secondary growth refers to an increase in the thickness or girth of the plant.

    3.  Identify meristems responsible for girth increase as lateral meristems.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Lateral Meristem

   Short cut solution: Cambium = Girth = Lateral.

Question 121

   Question: Which meristem helps in increasing girth?

   Options: 

    A. Lateral meristem

    B. Intercalary meristem

    C. Primary meristem

    D. Apical meristem

   Correct Answer: A

   Year: 1988

   Solution: (a) : The meristem that helps in increasing girth is lateral meristem. The lateral meristem is responsible for lateral growth of the plant i.e., growth in thickness e.g., cambium and cork cambium. It divides only periclinally or radially and is responsible for increase in girth or diameter.

   Step Solution:

    1.  Define girth as the circumference or thickness of the plant stem/root.

    2.  Identify the meristem type situated parallel to the sides of the organ.

    3.  Confirm that lateral meristems divide radially to add layers, thus increasing diameter.

   Difficulty Level: Easy

   Concept Name: Lateral Meristem

   Short cut solution: Girth = Lateral growth.