NEETBotanyAnatomy of Flowering Plants
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Interfascicular cambium is considered a primary lateral meristem. Reason (R): It is formed later in the life of the plant by the dedifferentiation of permanent cells of medullary rays. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Options
- ABoth (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is correct but (R) is not correct
- D(A) is not correct but (R) is correct
Correct answer
D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is incorrect because interfascicular cambium is a secondary lateral meristem, not a primary one. Primary meristems appear early in the life of a plant (e.g., apical meristems, intrafascicular cambium). Reason (R) is correct. Interfascicular cambium originates later in the plant's life during secondary growth. It is formed when the fully differentiated, permanent parenchymatous cells of the medullary rays regain the capacity to divide (dedifferentiation). Because of this later origin from permanent tis