Which of the following is CORRECT regarding the plant tissue?

RRB Nsg. Superintendent - 29 April 2025 (Shift-3rd)

Anatomy and Physiology

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent - 29 April 2025 (Shift-3rd)

Explanation

Meristematic tissues are composed of undifferentiated cells that are in a state of active cell division (mitosis).
This continuous division is the fundamental process behind plant growth.
Growth occurs in length (primary growth) at the tips of roots and shoots (apical meristems) and in girth/thickness (secondary growth) via lateral meristems.
Therefore, the primary function of meristematic tissue is to produce new cells, leading to the overall growth of the plant.

Option A: Vascular tissue's primary components are xylem and phloem, which are responsible for transport, not parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma.
Option B: Complex permanent tissues are defined as being made of more than one type of cell (e.g., xylem and phloem). Parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma are simple tissues, each composed of a single cell type.
Option C: This statement incorrectly swaps the classifications. Xylem and phloem are the primary examples of complex permanent tissues, not simple ones.

Visual 1: Flowchart - A flowchart illustrating the classification of plant tissues, starting from 'Plant Tissue' and branching into 'Meristematic' and 'Permanent', with further subdivisions for each category. This helps visualize the hierarchy.
Visual 2: Diagram - An anatomical diagram of a plant showing the locations of the three main types of meristems: apical (at the shoot and root tips), lateral (as a cylinder along the stem), and intercalary (at the base of nodes). This clarifies where growth originates.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification and function of plant tissues as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding plant tissue is crucial in agriculture. Techniques like grafting and taking cuttings rely on the regenerative ability of meristematic tissues to grow a new plant.
In pharmacology, the location of active compounds (secondary metabolites) is tissue-specific. Knowing whether a medicinal compound is in the leaves (parenchyma), bark (phloem, sclerenchyma), or wood (xylem) is vital for extraction.
The structural properties of plant tissues determine their use. Wood, which is primarily dead xylem and sclerenchyma, is hard and used for construction, while the flexibility of collenchyma allows stems to bend without breaking.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the classification and function of different plant tissues.
Read the lead-in keyword 'CORRECT'. Your goal is to find the one true statement among the options.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of basic botany:
Option A: Recall that 'vascular' relates to transport vessels. In plants, this is xylem and phloem. The listed tissues are for support and storage, so this is incorrect.
Option B: Recall that 'complex' tissue means it's made of multiple cell types. The listed tissues are 'simple' because each is made of one cell type. This is incorrect.
Option C: This is the reverse of the correct classification. Xylem and phloem are complex, not simple. This is incorrect.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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