Q.The meristematic phase of plant growth, located at the root and shoot apices, is chiefly characterised by cells that are:

[!TLDR]

Meristematic cells are small, densely cytoplasmic, thin-walled and actively dividing.

[!ANSWER]

(b) Small, densely cytoplasmic, thin-walled and actively dividing

The meristematic phase occurs right at the root or shoot apex, where cells retain the capacity to divide. Such cells are characteristically small, packed with dense cytoplasm, have a comparatively large nucleus, thin cellulosic walls with abundant plasmodesmatal connections to neighbouring cells, and are actively undergoing mitosis. Large, vacuolated cells with thickened walls instead describe the later maturation phase, and rapid elongation by water uptake describes the intervening elongation phase.

[!ANSWER]

(b) Small, densely cytoplasmic, thin-walled and actively dividing

Match the described cell features to the correct growth phase: small, dense, thin-walled and dividing is specifically the meristematic phase, not elongation or maturation.

Confusing the meristematic phase with the elongation phase, which is instead marked by vacuolation and cell enlargement rather than active division.