Which one of the following statements pertaining to plant structure is correct?

Options

A. cork lacks stomata, but lenticels carry out transpiration
B. passage cells help in transfer of food form cortex to phloem
C. sieve tube elements possess cytoplasm but no nuclei
D. the shoot apical meristem has a quiescent center

Answer

To determine which statement pertaining to plant structure is correct, we will analyze each of the provided options step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Evaluate the First Statement:**
- **Statement:** "Cork lacks stomata but lenticels carry out transpiration."
- **Analysis:** Cork does indeed lack stomata, but lenticels are not primarily responsible for transpiration; they facilitate gas exchange. Therefore, this statement is **incorrect**.

2. **Evaluate the Second Statement:**
- **Statement:** "Passage cells help in the transfer of food from cortex to phloem."
- **Analysis:** Passage cells are involved in the transport of substances to the stele (the central part of the root), not directly from the cortex to the phloem. Hence, this statement is also **incorrect**.

3. **Evaluate the Third Statement:**
- **Statement:** "Sieve tube elements possess cytoplasm but no nuclei."
- **Analysis:** Sieve tube elements are specialized cells in the phloem that indeed contain cytoplasm but lack a nucleus. This statement is **correct**.

4. **Evaluate the Fourth Statement:**
- **Statement:** "Typical meristem has a quiescent center."
- **Analysis:** While quiescent centers are found in root meristems, they are not typically associated with shoot apical meristems, where active growth occurs. Therefore, this statement is **incorrect**.

### Conclusion:
The correct statement is: **"Sieve tube elements possess cytoplasm but no nuclei."**

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