Increase in girth (diameter) of plant as a result of the activities of lateral meristems is called

Options

A. primary growth
B. secondary growth
C. open form of growth
D. diffuse growth

Answer

To answer the question regarding the increase in girth (diameter) of a plant as a result of the activities of lateral meristems, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Girth and Meristems**:
- Girth refers to the diameter or width of a plant.
- Meristems are regions in plants where cells divide and lead to growth.

2. **Types of Meristems**:
- There are two main types of meristems:
- **Primary Meristems**: These are involved in primary growth, which increases the length of the plant. They include apical meristems (found at the tips of roots and shoots) and intercalary meristems (found at the nodes).
- **Lateral Meristems**: These are involved in secondary growth, which increases the girth or diameter of the plant.

3. **Defining Primary and Secondary Growth**:
- **Primary Growth**: Involves the elongation of the plant and is facilitated by primary meristems.
- **Secondary Growth**: Involves the increase in thickness or girth of the plant and is facilitated by lateral meristems.

4. **Identifying the Correct Term**:
- Since the question specifically asks about the increase in girth due to the activities of lateral meristems, we conclude that this type of growth is termed **secondary growth**.

5. **Final Answer**:
- Therefore, the increase in girth (diameter) of a plant as a result of the activities of lateral meristems is called **secondary growth**.