2004 AIPMT Morphology of Flowering PlantsRegions of the root Easy Question 2 of 2 in Regions of the root

In a longitudinal section of a root, starting from the tip upward, the four zones occur in the following order :-

A Root cap, cell division, cell maturation, cell enlargement
B Cell division, cell enlargement, cell maturation, root cap
C Cell division, cell maturation, cell enlargement, root cap
D Root cap, cell division, cell enlargement, cell maturation

The answer is D.

Solution

The extreme tip of the root is covered by a thimble-like root cap, which protects the tender apex as it pushes through the soil.
Just behind (above) the root cap is the region of meristematic activity, where small, thin-walled cells divide repeatedly (cell division).
Above this is the region of elongation, where the new cells enlarge and lengthen, pushing the root tip forward (cell enlargement).
Above this is the region of maturation, where cells differentiate into permanent tissues; root hairs arise from the epidermis here.
So from the tip upward the order is: root cap, cell division, cell enlargement, cell maturation.

Concept Zones of root tip

Regions of the root in past papers

2 questions from this chapter have appeared across 2 exam years.