Which one of the following statements pertaining to plant structure is correct
(a) Cork lacks stomata but lenticels carry our transpiration
(b) Passage cells help in transfer of food from cortex to phloem
(c) Sieve tube elements possess cytoplasm but no nuclei
(d) The shoot apical meristem has a quiescent center.

Options

A. Crock lacks stomata but lentcels carry our transpitation
B. Passage cells help in transfer of food from 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 about plant structure is correct, we will analyze each option one by one.

### Step 1: Analyze Option (a)
**Statement:** Cork lacks stomata but lenticels carry out transpiration.

- **Explanation:** Cork does not have stomata; it is a protective layer. Lenticels are small openings in the bark that allow gas exchange and can facilitate transpiration. However, the statement is misleading because it suggests that cork lacks any form of gas exchange, which is not entirely accurate. Thus, this statement is **incorrect**.

### Step 2: Analyze Option (b)
**Statement:** Passage cells help in the transfer of food from cortex to phloem.

- **Explanation:** Passage cells are specialized cells in the endodermis that allow the movement of water and nutrients into the vascular system, but they are not primarily responsible for transferring food (sugars) from the cortex to the phloem. The cells responsible for food transport are sieve tube elements. Therefore, this statement is also **incorrect**.

### Step 3: Analyze Option (c)
**Statement:** Sieve tube elements possess cytoplasm but no nuclei.

- **Explanation:** Sieve tube elements are indeed specialized cells in the phloem that transport sugars. They do contain cytoplasm but lack a nucleus at maturity. This statement is **correct**.

### Step 4: Analyze Option (d)
**Statement:** The shoot apical meristem has a quiescent center.

- **Explanation:** The shoot apical meristem does have a quiescent center, which is a group of cells that are not actively dividing but can become active under certain conditions. However, this statement is somewhat misleading as it does not specify the role of the quiescent center. While it is true, it is not the most straightforward statement in comparison to option (c).

### Conclusion:
After analyzing all the options, the correct statement is:
**(c) Sieve tube elements possess cytoplasm but no nuclei.**