Apical meristems of dicots are at the tips of stems. Apical meristems of grasses are at ground level or slightly below, concealed by the leaves. The leaves also have an intercalary meristem at their bases. What does this mean when considering care of a lawn or soccer field?
A) If you mow 2 inches above ground level, most apical meristems will be cut down.
B) If you mow 2 inches above ground level, both the apical and intercalary meristems can keep producing new cells.
C) If you mow right at ground level, the apical meristems are activated, thereby inducing grass growth.
D) Grass mowed 2 inches above ground level grows at a slower rate compared to grass mowed 3 inches above the ground level.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mowing 2 inches above ground level allows both the apical and intercalary meristems to keep producing new cells, promoting healthy grass growth. Cutting too low (Option A) may damage the apical meristems and slow down growth, while cutting right at ground level (Option C) may not be enough to activate the apical meristems. Option D is not relevant to the topic of meristems.

Apical Meristems of Dicots Are at the Tips of Stems