1. Primary Growth: Meristems are responsible for primary growth in plants. The apical meristems located at the tips of roots and shoots continuously produce new cells, which leads to the elongation of roots and shoots. This primary growth helps in upward growth of shoots to reach sunlight and downward growth of roots for water and nutrients.
2. Secondary Growth: Meristems also play a crucial role in secondary growth, which refers to the increase in girth or thickness of the plant stem and roots. The activity of lateral meristems, called the vascular cambium and cork cambium, leads to the production of new cells that differentiate into secondary tissues like wood and bark. This enables plants to become structurally stronger and provides support with age.
3. Wound Healing and Regeneration: Meristems are involved in wound healing and regeneration in plants. When parts of a plant get damaged, the meristematic cells near the injured area divide and differentiate to establish new tissue for repair. This process allows plants to recover from injuries caused by herbivores, diseases, or physical damage.
4. Cloning and Propagation: Meristematic cells have the ability to regenerate entire plants, which allows for plant cloning and propagation. By utilizing tissue culture techniques, individual cells from meristems can be cultured in laboratory conditions to develop into fully grown plants. This is an important method for propagation of rare or endangered plant species, as well as for rapid multiplication of desirable traits in plants with economic value.
give 4 importances of meristems in plant growth
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