SECONDARY GROWTH Meaning and
Definition
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Secondary growth refers to the type of growth that occurs in plants and trees, resulting in an increase in girth and diameter of stems and roots. It is also known as lateral growth or radial growth. Unlike primary growth, which primarily focuses on the elongation of roots and shoots, secondary growth mainly occurs in woody perennial plants and is responsible for their overall increase in size and thickness.
In secondary growth, the stems and roots of plants develop additional growth tissues, such as vascular cambium and cork cambium. These meristematic tissues divide and differentiate, leading to the formation of new layers of xylem and phloem, which contribute to the thickening of the plant's vascular system. As the xylem and phloem cells are laid down, the plant's circumference increases, resulting in the expansion of the stem or root. This continued secondary growth over the years allows the plant to mature into a stout and stable structure.
Secondary growth plays a vital role in providing mechanical support, enhancing water and nutrient uptake, and enabling efficient transportation of resources within plants. Additionally, it enables the production of resilient tissues like bark, which offer protection against environmental factors like pathogens, herbivores, and adverse weather conditions.
Overall, secondary growth is a fundamental process in the life cycle of woody plants, enabling their structural and functional development, as well as their ability to adapt and thrive in their environment.
Common Misspellings for SECONDARY GROWTH
- aecondary growth
- zecondary growth
- xecondary growth
- decondary growth
- eecondary growth
- wecondary growth
- swcondary growth
- sscondary growth
- sdcondary growth
- srcondary growth
- s4condary growth
- s3condary growth
- sexondary growth
- sevondary growth
- sefondary growth
- sedondary growth
- secindary growth
- seckndary growth
- seclndary growth
- secpndary growth
Etymology of SECONDARY GROWTH
The word "secondary" derives from the Latin word "secundarius", which means "following, next, or secondary". The term "growth" originates from the Old English word "growan", which means "to grow" or "to increase". Therefore, the etymology of "secondary growth" can be understood as the process of growth that occurs after the primary or initial stage of growth.
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