Question 16 of 19intermediate🔧 ApplyEssay3 marks

Reflect on any gardening methods you know, such as pruning, grafting, irrigation or crop rotation. How does each practice support the healthy functioning of plant tissues like meristems, conducting tissues or supporting tissues?

Correct Answer

Pruning involves cutting branches, which directly relates to meristematic tissues. The intercalary meristem located at the base of certain plants like grasses helps them regenerate after cutting, while the apical meristem at shoot tips can drive new growth in length once dominant tips are removed.

Grafting requires proper connection of conducting tissues — xylem and phloem — between the grafted parts so that water and food transport continues throughout the joined plant.

Irrigation supports the functioning of conducting tissues by ensuring water availability for transport. It also maintains parenchyma cells, which store food and perform photosynthesis. Crop rotation sustains overall plant health, ensuring meristematic tissues — with their thin cell walls, dense cytoplasm and large prominent nucleus — can continue rapid cell division for growth in length and girth.

Exercise: The Journey Beyond | Q: 3 | (Page 20)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The question asks students to connect gardening practices to plant tissue functioning. From the context: pruning relates to meristematic tissues (intercalary meristem helps regenerate after cutting; apical meristem increases length); grafting relies on conducting tissues (xylem and phloem) connecting properly; irrigation supports conducting tissues and parenchyma function; crop rotation supports overall plant health enabling meristematic tissues to divide rapidly. The context provides details on meristematic tissue properties (thin walls, dense cytoplasm, large nucleus), types (apical, lateral, intercalary), conducting tissues (xylem, phloem), and supporting tissues (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma).

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify gardening methods — pruning, grafting, irrigation, crop rotation

  2. Step 2: Connect pruning to meristematic tissues — intercalary meristem regenerates after cutting, apical meristem drives length growth

  3. Step 3: Connect grafting to conducting tissues — xylem and phloem must connect for transport

  4. Step 4: Connect irrigation to conducting tissues and parenchyma function

  5. Step 5: Connect crop rotation to overall plant health supporting meristematic tissue division

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