Tag: botany

In a typical dicot stem anatomy, the vascular bundles are conjoint, open (having cambium allowing secondary growth), and arranged in a ring. Statement C incorrectly states they are closed.

Casparian strips occur in radial walls of endodermis. The Casparian strip is a band of cell wall material deposited on the radial and transverse walls of the endodermis, and is chemically different from the rest of the cell wall - the cell wall being made of lignin and without suberin - whereas, the Casparian strip is made of suberin and sometimes lignin. It blocks the passive flow of materials such as water and solutes into the stele of a plant.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.

Open vascular bundle contains an interfascicular cambium in between phloem and xylem. Phloem and xylem are not in direct contact with each other. 

Starch sheath is endodermis of dicot stem. The endodermis is the central, innermost layer of cortex in some land plants. The endodermis is the boundary between the cortex and the stele. The endodermis helps regulate the movement of water, ions and hormones into and out of the vascular system. It may also store starch, be involved in perception of gravity and protect the plant against toxins moving into the vascular system. 

In dicot stems, the pith is generally small or reduced compared to monocot stems, where it is often large and well-developed. Dicot roots typically lack a pith or have a very small one.

In a dicot stem, by the end of the first year, the primary structure shows the growth of vascular and cork cambiums. The growth of the secondary xylem becomes continuous with the primary xylem. The secondary growth occurs both in the stele and cortex and though simultaneously, is caused by separate strips of secondary meristem. The cambial ring exhibits mitotic activity on both the sides and ones towards the inner surface results in the formation of xylem cells.

Hypodermis is a region lying immediately below the epidermis. It is represented by a few layers of collenchyma cells with angular thickenings. The cells are compactly arranged without any intercellular spaces. Hypodermis provides mechanical support and additional protection. So, hypodermis of a dicot stem is composed of collenchyma and not parenchyma or sclerenchyma. 
Thus, the correct answer is option B.

In a young dicot stem epidermis is covered by a waxy coating, called as cuticle. Cuticle is the waxy coating of the outer walls of epidermal cells of stem. It's function is to protect against excessive water loss, as well as protecting against mechanical injury.

Collenchyma tissue is composed of elongated cells with irregularly thickened walls. They provide structural support, particularly in growing shoots and leaves. Collenchyma tissue makes up things such as the resilient strands in stalks of celery. Collenchyma cells are usually living and have only a thick primary cell wall made up of cellulose and pectin. Cell wall thickness is strongly affected by mechanical stress upon the plant. The walls of collenchyma in shaken plants may be 40 to 100% thicker than those not shaken. Collenchyma cells are most often found adjacent to outer growing tissues such as the vascular cambium and are known for increasing structural support and integrity. So, stem of few dicot plants are getting mechanical strength mainly because of collenchyma before secondary growth. Parenchyma is a versatile ground tissue that generally constitutes the filler tissue in soft parts of plants. It forms, among other things, the cortex and pith of stems, the cortex of roots, the mesophyll of leaves, the pulp of fruits and the endosperm of seeds. Sclerenchyma is the supporting tissue in plants after secondary growth. 
Thus, the correct answer is option B.