Plant Growth and Mineral Nutrition — BIOLOGY STD 12 Science — Question

There are three phases of growth, viz, formation phase, elongation phase and maturation phase.
(1) Formative phase (Phase of cell division) : This is the first phase of growth. In this phase, the meristematic cells undergo mitosis to produce new cells. Owing to the formation of new cells, there occurs a slight increase in the size of the organ.
(2) Elongation phase (Phase of cell enlargement) : This is the second phase of growth. In this phase, the new cells that are formed, undergo enlargement as a result of which the size and volume of the cells increase. Enlargement of cells occur mostly in linear direction as a result of which the elongation of the root and stem takes place. The enlargement of cells causes a considerable increase in size and weight of an organ and a plant as a whole.
(3) Maturation phase (Phase of cell maturation and differentiation) : Maturation phase is the third and last phase of growth. In this phase, the elongated cells undergo maturation and differentiation to form various types of plant tissues like parenchyma, sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem.