How many shoot apical meristems are likely to be present in a twig of a plant possessing, 4 branches and 26 leaves

Options

A. 26
B. 1
C. 5
D. 30

Answer

To determine how many shoot apical meristems are likely to be present in a twig of a plant with 4 branches and 26 leaves, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Shoot Apical Meristems**:
- Shoot apical meristems are located at the tips of the shoots (stems and branches) and are responsible for the growth of new leaves and branches.

2. **Identifying the Components**:
- The plant has 4 branches. Each branch will have its own shoot apical meristem at the tip.

3. **Counting the Apical Meristems**:
- Since there are 4 branches, there will be 4 shoot apical meristems (one for each branch).
- Additionally, the main stem (or axis of the twig) will also have its own shoot apical meristem.

4. **Calculating the Total**:
- Therefore, the total number of shoot apical meristems is:
- 4 (from the branches) + 1 (from the main stem) = 5 shoot apical meristems.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The total number of shoot apical meristems present in the twig of the plant is 5.

### Final Answer:
The twig of the plant is likely to have **5 shoot apical meristems**.

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