1 answer
(click or scroll down)
Bot GPT 3.5 Growth in plants refers to the increase in size, height, and mass of a plant over time. It is a result of cell division and cell expansion, which occur in specific regions known as meristems. Plant growth is mainly driven by two processes: primary growth and secondary growth.
Primary growth is the increase in length or height of a plant and occurs at the apical meristems located at the tips of shoots and roots. The apical meristem produces new cells that differentiate into various tissues, such as leaves, stems, and roots. As these cells continue to divide and elongate, the plant grows taller or longer.
Secondary growth, on the other hand, leads to an increase in girth or width of the plant. It occurs in woody plants and is responsible for the formation of secondary tissues such as wood and bark. Secondary growth is driven by lateral meristems, known as the vascular cambium and cork cambium, which produce new cells that add to the plant's circumference.
Environmental factors play a crucial role in plant growth, including sunlight, water availability, nutrient availability, temperature, and humidity. These factors influence the rate and extent of growth in plants. Additionally, hormones like auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins also regulate plant growth by controlling cell division, elongation, and differentiation.