The growth of plant at various stages i.e.,from embryonic stage till maturity, includes both increase in length and girth, which is a
result of activity of different meristems. For example promeristem present in the youngest stage of growing plant or organ gives
rise to primary meristem by cell division. The primary meristems are the apical growing regions of root and stem that make up the
fundamental structure of plant body. Some of the primary meristems (e.g., cambium) give rise to secondary meristem. The secondary
meristems develop at certain stages during development of a plant organ. These are usually lateral, lying along the side of stem
and root. The lateral meristems (primary and secondary e.g., cambium, interfascicular cambium, cork-cambium, etc.) give rise to
secondary permanent tissues that are responsible for secondary growth or thickness of plant body.
This increase in thickness due to addition of secondary tissues cut off by cambium and cork cambium in the stelar and extra stelar
regions respectively is known as secondary growth in plants.
SECONDARY GROWTH IN DICOT ROOT
Except some annuals, most of the dicots and gymnosperms show secondary growth in their roots. Secondary growth in roots
occurs a few centimetres behind the apex. It occurs due to addition of new tissues cut off by cambium and cork cambium in the
interior as well as in peripheral region. It occurs mainly due to the activity of two secondary meristems-vascular cambium and
cork cambium.
SECONDARY GROWTH IN PLANTS
The syllabus for NEET is very vast which impedes students from
acquiring indepth knowledge and covering the entire syllabus
at the same time. An essential topic for NEET is therefore
presented here to enable students grasp the topic, analyse the
type of questions and SCORE HIGH.