Vibha claims to her friend Neha that, 'Meristematic cells are located only at the root and shoot apices'. What do you think about this statement? What question can Neha ask Vibha to help her understand further if the statement is incorrect?
Vibha's statement is incorrect. While apical meristems are located at the root and shoot tips to help plants grow in length, meristematic cells are not located only there. Plants also have lateral meristems located along the circumference of stems to increase girth, and intercalary meristems located at the base of internodes or nodes to help plants regenerate after being cut.
To help Vibha understand further, Neha can ask: "If meristematic cells are only at the tips, how do plants like grass regenerate after being mowed, or how do stems increase their thickness?" This question would prompt Vibha to realize that other types of meristematic tissues must exist in other locations to facilitate these types of growth.
Explanation
The textbook explicitly states that plants have three types of meristematic tissues: apical, lateral, and intercalary. Apical meristems are at the tips, lateral meristems are along the stem circumference, and intercalary meristems are at the base of internodes or nodes. Therefore, claiming they are 'only' at the apices is incorrect. Neha's question should challenge Vibha's claim by pointing out other types of plant growth (girth and regrowth after cutting) that cannot be explained by apical meristems alone.