CHAPTER 4 :

REPRODUCTION & GROWTH

4.8 Primary &
Secondary Growth in
Plants
LEARNING OUTCOMES
State the types of growth in plants;

State what primary growth & secondary
growth are;

Name the tissues involved in primary &
secondary growth;

State the location of the tissues involved in
primary & secondary growth;
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Explain the importance of primary
growth;

Explain the importance of secondary
growth;

Compare & contrast plants that undergo
secondary growth with plants that do not
undergo secondary growth;

State the economic importance of plants
that undergo secondary growth.
THE TYPES OF GROWTH IN PLANTS
Two types of growth : primary growth &
secondary growth.

Primary growth = occurs after germination,
shown in all plants.

Secondary growth = the growth in diameter of
the stem, root & trunk of plants. (perennial
plants)
Refers to elongation of its shoot & root
enables a plant to increase in height.

Tissues involved the apical meristem (shoot
meristem & root meristem)

3 growth zone : cell division, cell elongation &
cell differentiation.

Result in an increase in length of the stem &
root.
Refers to an increase in the girth/ diameter of a plant.

Occurs in dicots but rarely in monocots.

Two types of lateral meristems : vascular cambium &
cork cambium.

Vascular cambium is found in between phloem &
xylem in the vascular bundle.

Cork cambium is found in the cortex beneath the
epidermis.
Cells in vascular cambium divide radially
many cambial cells in between the vascular
bundle. link together ring cambium

Cambium ring divide actively cells on
the outside, inside the ring.

Outside differentiate secondary phloem
primary phloem to be pushed outwards.
Inside differentiate secondary xylem
primary xylem pushed inwards.

Formation of more vascular tissues because
the plant grow bigger need more food &
water, support.

Cork cambium divide inside
secondary cortex, outside become cork
Secondary
growth
COMPARISON BETWEEN PLANTS THAT
UNDERGO SECONDARY GROWTH WITH THOSE
THAT DO NOT
UNDERGO DO NOT UNDERGO
Mostly dicots Mostly monocots
Vascular cambium present Vascular cambium absent
Cork, cork cambium & secondary
cortex present
Cork, cork cambium & secondary
cortex absent
Generally bigger in size Generally smaller in size
Have woody stems Have non-woody stems
Have more vascular tissues (secondary
phloem & xylem present)
Have less vascular tissues (only primary
phloem & xylem present)
Perennial plants Live for one season only
The Economic Importance of Plant that Undergo Secondary Growth
Have woody stems great economic value.

Firewood as a source of fuel.

Timber logs for construction, building
houses & bridges.

Making furniture & paper (pulps).

Production of resin & oils (meranti)

Ornamental/decorative pieces