Q.How does juvenile phase differ from reproductive phase ?

The juvenile (vegetative) phase is the non-reproductive growth period before sexual maturity, while the reproductive phase is the mature period when gametogenesis and reproduction actually occur.

In the life history of any sexually reproducing organism, growth and development proceed through distinguishable phases. The juvenile phase (in plants often called the vegetative phase) extends from birth, hatching or germination up to the point the organism becomes sexually mature; during this time the organism invests its resources in growth of body structures, and its reproductive organs/gametes are not yet functional, so it cannot reproduce. Once sexual maturity is reached, the organism enters the reproductive phase, marked by the initiation of gametogenesis (spermatogenesis and oogenesis in animals; production of functional gametes), characteristic hormonal changes (e.g. onset of the menstrual cycle in human females), and reproductive/mating behaviours. Reproduction — production of offspring — occurs only during this phase. The length of the juvenile phase differs enormously a …