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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Meristem
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-03
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A region of plant tissue containing cells
that are actively dividing to produce new
tissues (or have the potential to do so).
Meristems found in the tip of roots and
stems, the apical meristems, are responsible
for the growth in length of these organs. The
cambium is a lateral meristem which is
responsible for increase in girth in perenial
plants. Some plants also have intercalary
meristems, as in the stems of grasses, for
example. These are responsible for their
continued growth after cutting or grazing has
removed the apical meristems of the shoots.
Meristem culture involves growing meristems
taken from shoots on a nutrient-containing
medium, and using them to grow new plants. It
is used to progagate infertile plants or
hybrids which do not breed true from seed,
and to generate virus-free stock, since
viruses rarely infect apical meristems.