Skip to main content
UNIVERSITY OF ALLAHABAD
DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY
TOPIC : MERISTEM
-ANURAG PANDEY
 TISSUE : Group of cells which are similar, having a common origin and performing
similar function.
 A complex of cells of common origin.
-Fahn (1928)
Tissues are of three types :
TISSUE
MERISTEMATI
TISSUE
PERMANENT
TISSUE
SECRETORY
TISSUE
MERISTEMATIC TISSUE :
 The term meristem was coined by Carl Wilhelm von Nägeli (1858).
 Term meristem is derived from Greek word “Merismos” that means “divisible”.
 Meristematic tissue is group of immature cells that has capacity of division and
redivision.
 The term of meristem is applied to the region of more or less continuous cell division from
which new tissues and organs are produced .
 Meristematic tissues are the products of meristem which do not develop into adult cells but
remain meristematic .
 For example, the root and shoot apices and the cambium are meristems which produce
meristematic tissues that divide and differentiate into xylem ,phloem, parenchyma, etc.
CHARACTERSTICS OF MERISTEM
 Ability to grow and divide, small immature cells, Isodiametric, rounded, oval or
polygonal, Absence of intercellular spaces.
 Walls are thin, elastic and made up of cellulose, dense protoplasm with many small
vacuoles and large nuclei .
 Pro-plastids are present instead of plastids.
 Endoplasmic reticulum is poorly developed.
 Mitochondria have simple structure, rate of respiration is very high.
 These cell do not store reserve food materials or very low reserve food materials.
 Functions of Meristematic Tissue:
 Meristems are actively dividing tissues of the plant.
 They are responsible for primary (elongation) and secondary (thickness) growth of the
plant.
 All new organs and their growth occur by the division of meristematic tissue.
 Secondary tissues such as wood, cork are also formed due to activity of meristematic
tissue.
Classification of meristem :
Meristematic
tissue
On the basis of
origin
Promeristem
Primary meristem
Secondary
meristem
On the basis of
position
Apical meristem
Lateral meristem
Intercalary
meristem
On the basis of
functions
Protoderm
Procambium
Ground meristem
On the basis of
plane of division
Rib meristem
Mass meristem
Plate meristem
Classification based on origin/development :
1. Promeristem or Primodial meristem -:
 Origin: embryonic origin therefore called Primordial or Embryonic meristem.
 It is earliest and youngest meristematic tissue.
 It is present at the extreme tip of young and growing root and shoot consisting of only
few cells.
 It give rises to primary meristem.
2. Primary meristem -:
 Origin: From Promeristem
 Cell are always active and dividing
 Present below promeristem in the shoot and root tip, and also in intercalary position
 It gives rise to secondary meristem and primary permanent tissue
3.Secondary meristem -:
 Origin: From primary meristem.
 It is developed later in life.
 It gives rise to secondary permanent tissue.
 E.g. Vascular cambium and cork cambium.
Classification based on position in plant body :
Meristem
oApical meristem
oPresent at growing apices
of plant such as root tip and
shoot tip.
•It divides in different planes
and helps to increase the
length.
•Apical meristem has two
distinct zone:
•Promeristem zone: contains
group of dividing cell (apical
initials)
•Meristematic zone: contains
Lateral meristem
1.Located in between the
regions of permanent
tissues.
2.It divides periclinally .
3.It helps to increase
thickening or girth during
secondary growth.
4.Example: vascular
cambium (primary
meristem) and cork
cambium (secondary
meristem)
Intercalary meristem
These are the portions of apical
meristems which are separated
from the apex during the
growth of the axis and remain
intercalated between
permanent cells.
It helps in elongation of plant
body.
Commonly present in
monocots, grass and pines.
Two type of intercalary
meristem involved in
Classification based on function -:
o Haberlandt (1914) classified meristem on the basis of function.
Meristem
Protoderm
Function: Protection
mechanical injury
•It gives rise to epidermis
layer.
•It is the outermost
meristematic tissue
Procambium
Function: Transport of
water and nutrition
•It gives rise to vascular
tissue (xylem and
phloem)
•It is the innermost
meristematic tissue
Ground meristem
Function: Various
functions
•It gives rise to cortex,
endodermis, pericycle
and pith in dicot and
hypodermis, ground
tissue in monocot.
Apical
meristem
Protoderm
Epidermis
Cork
cambium
Procambium
Primary
xylem
Fascicular
cambium
Primary
phloem
Ground
meristem
Pith Cortex
Vascular
cambium
Secondary
xylem
Secondary
phloem
Classification based on Plane of Division -:
On the basis of plane of division the meristem are grouped under the following
three types -
 Rib meristem-The cells divide only in one plane (anticlinal)is called Rib meristem.
It’s important role is in the development of pith and cortex of young stem.
 Mass meristem-Cells divide in three planes or all planes e.g. Early embryo.
It’s important role is in the early development of endosperm, sporangia, cortex and
pith.
 Plate meristem -The cells divide chiefly in two planes giving a plate like increase is
called plate meristem.
It’s important role is in the development of leaves without increasing thickness.
Quiescent Centre or Quiescent Zone:
o First time observed by Clowes(1956,58) in root tips of Zea mays.
o An inactive center in between root cap and meristematic region.
o It is a biconvex structure and made up of thousands of inactive cells.
o In this region the rate of cell division is very slow as compared to
surrounding cells.
o This region carries less amount of DNA, RNA, ER, mitochondria and
ribosomes.
o This zone is the site of auxin synthesis.
Functions:
 It acts as reservoir of cells.
 It is more resistant to injury and irradiation.
 If root growth is stopped or root tip is damaged then this zone restores
growth.
REFERENCES:
 www.biologydiscussion.com
 www.onlinebiologynotes.com
 Esau’s Plant Anatomy third edition.
Meristematic tissue types and classification.