Question

Scientists are cataloguing slides of plant cross-sections. They are interested in finding examples of secondary growth. Which example contributes to secondary growth?

a) Apical meristem
b) Vascular cambium
c) Root hairs
d) Guard cells

Answer 1

The vascular cambium contributes to secondary growth in plants, which is an increase in the plant's girth and results in the formation of wood.

Step-by-step explanation:

When scientists are cataloguing slides of plant cross-sections and looking for examples of secondary growth, the example that contributes to this process is the vascular cambium. Secondary growth occurs in woody plants and is characterized by an increase in the thickness or girth of the plant. This type of growth is responsible for forming wood in trees and is caused by cell division in the lateral meristems, which include the vascular cambium and cork cambium. Specifically, the vascular cambium produces secondary xylem towards the center of the stem and secondary phloem towards the outside, resulting in an increase in stem diameter. Conversely, apical meristem contributes to primary growth, or the lengthening of the plant, while root hairs and guard cells are involved in other vital plant functions unrelated to secondary growth.