Question

In only 3 sentences, compare and contrast the following:

a) CAM and C4 plants

b) Micronutrients and macronutrients (with examples)

c) Apical meristems and lateral meristems

Answer 1

Answer A. Craasulacean acid metabolism or CAM occurs in the xerophytes like cactus and aloe Vera. The stomata of these plants open at night and close during the day. They at night store maximum CO2 and accumulate as malate.

C4 plant are maize, pineapple etc, they use the atmospheric CO2 and does photorespiration. Their C4 compound enters the Calvin cycle. Photorespiration occurs in the mesophyll cells and the bundle sheath.

Answer B. Macronutrients are required in larger quantities. They basically help in building the plant body and different protoplasmic structures. They do not play any significant role in the enzymic activity. Ex- nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium , magnesium, sulphur etc.

Micronutrients are required in small quantities. They don't help in building the plant body but are quite helpful in the enzymic activity. Ex- iron, manganese, boron, zinc, chlorine, molybdenum etc.

Answer C.

Apical meristems are confined to the apical position of the roots and the shoots and divide by regular mitosis to increase the number of cells. They help in increasing the longitudinal growth of the plant, thus, the growth occuring by this is known as the primary growth.

Lateral meristems are confined to the lateral position of the plant. They include the vascular cambium and the Cork cambium. They increase the latitudinal growth of the plant, growth occuring because of them is known as the secondary growth.