Question

Write a short note on secondary growth.

Answer 1

1. Dicotyledonous plants and gymnosperms exhibit increase in girth of root and stem.
2. In dicot stem, secondary growth begins with the formation of a continuous cambium ring.
3. The cambium present between the primary xylem and primary phloem of a vascular bundle is called intrafascicular cambium.
4. The cells of medullary rays adjoining these intrafascicular cambium strips become meristematic (regain the capacity to divide) and form the interfascicular cambium.
5. Thus, a complete and continuous ring of vascular cambium is formed.
6. The cambium ring cuts off new cells, towards both inner and outer sides.
7. The cells that are cut-off towards pith (inner side) mature into secondary xylem and cells that are cut-off towards the periphery mature into secondary phloem.
8. Generally, amount of secondary xylem is more than the secondary phloem.