Question

1. Name the major types of specialized tissues found in vascular plants (vascular tissues and other tissues). Explain their function(s), including the contributions of any special types of cells.

2. Give examples of meristematic tissues and explain their roles in primary growth and secondary growth in vascular plants.

3. Discuss mutualism in plant nutrition. In your essay, be sure to include explanations of how mycorrhizae, rhizobacteria, and nodules contribute to plant growth.

4. What is the evolutionary advantage of double fertilization? Why did it develop along with the evolution of the seed?

5. Much has been learned over the years about plant hormones and much will continue to be discovered as we get better at detecting, analyzing, and experimenting with these chemicals found in extremely tiny amounts. Discuss the following plant hormones:
     a. Explain the economic significance of ethylene gas in agriculture in terms of ripening and rotting. Give an example from your personal experience at home with grocery store produce of how you can use ethylene to your advantage to promote ripening or how you can slow the effects of ethylene in order to prevent rotting.
     b. Which hormone(s) is/are responsible for the ability of sunflowers to turn their flowers to track the sun throughout the day? Explain how these hormones work.
     c. Which hormone(s) is/are responsible for the falling of leaves from deciduous trees in Autumn? Explain how these hormones work.
     d. In order to propagate cuttings from mature stems or leaves, gardeners often dip the plant cuttings in rooting hormones. Explain why.

Answer 1

1. Vascular tissues found in plants are xylem and phloem

Xylem helps in transportation of water and minerals and phloem helps in the transportation of food and other organic compounds.

2. There are 3 types of meristematic tissue found in plants

Apical tissue: found at the tips. The main function of apical tissue is the growth of new buds and growing roots and shoots. Basically it triggers the growth of new and young cells.

Intercalary tissue: found in the middle. It helps in the growth and elongation of the plant from the position where they are present.

Lateral: found at the sides. It helps in increasing the thickness of the plant. Example: Cork cambium

3. Mutualism is a phenomenon where one species relies completely on another species for goods, services, nutrition or any other thing.

Mycorrhiza is a mutualistic relationship between fungus and plant. The fungus gets food and nutrition from plant and plant gets benefitted by the mycelia of fungus that helps in the absorption of water and nutrients.

Rizobacteria is present in the roots of the plants and forms a symbiotic relationship with many plants. Rhizobacteria is a growth-promoting bacteria by helping in roots secretions and controlling the microbial activity. Rhizobacteria get a place to reside in the roots of the plants.