A : Cereals are monocarpic plants.
R: They have distinct juvenile, reproductive and senescent phases.

Options

A. If both Assertion & Reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (1)
B. If both Assertion & Reason are true and the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion, then mark (2)
C. If Assertion is true statements but Reason is false then mark (3)
D. If both Assertion and Reason are false statements, then mark (4)

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Assertion:**
- The assertion states that "Cereals are monocarpic plants."
- Monocarpic plants are those that flower and set seeds only once in their lifetime. This means they complete their life cycle in one growing season.

2. **Examples of Cereals:**
- Common examples of cereals include wheat, rice, and barley.
- For instance, wheat is a cereal that flowers and produces seeds once in a year.

3. **Understanding the Reason:**
- The reason provided is that "They have distinct juvenile, reproductive, and senescent phases."
- This refers to the life cycle stages of monocarpic plants.

4. **Phases of Life Cycle:**
- **Juvenile Phase:** This is the initial phase where the plant is immature and does not reproduce. The plant is growing but not yet capable of flowering.
- **Reproductive Phase:** In this phase, the plant matures and becomes capable of reproduction. This is when flowering and seed production occur.
- **Senescent Phase:** After reproduction, the plant enters the senescent phase, where aging occurs, leading to the eventual death of the plant.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Both the assertion and reason are true. Cereals are indeed monocarpic plants, and they go through distinct phases of juvenile, reproductive, and senescent stages in their life cycle.
- Therefore, the correct option is that both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.