What all changes occur when shoot apical meristem converts into floral meristem?

Explanation

To understand the changes that occur when the shoot apical meristem converts into the floral meristem, we can break down the process into several key steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Shoot Apical Meristem (SAM)**:
- The shoot apical meristem is the region at the tip of the shoot where new growth occurs. It is responsible for the elongation of the shoot and the formation of leaves and stems.

2. **Conversion to Floral Meristem**:
- When the shoot apical meristem transitions to a floral meristem, it signifies the plant's shift from vegetative growth to reproductive growth.

3. **Halting of Internode Elongation**:
- One of the primary changes is that the elongation of internodes (the segments between nodes) is halted. This means that instead of the shoot growing taller, the plant focuses on developing flowers.

4. **Condensation of the Plant Axis**:
- The entire axis of the plant becomes condensed. This means that the distance between the nodes decreases, leading to a more compact structure.

5. **Formation of Flowers Instead of Leaves**:
- Typically, leaves arise from the nodes of the shoot. However, during the conversion to floral meristem, flowers begin to develop from these nodes instead of leaves. This marks a significant shift in the plant's development.

6. **Summary of Changes**:
- In summary, the key changes that occur during the conversion of shoot apical meristem to floral meristem include:
- Halting of internode elongation.
- Condensation of the plant axis.
- Development of flowers from the nodes instead of leaves.