FFA Floriculture Practice Test

The part of the plant stem that produces all new cells is known as the?

1. Phloem

2. Xylem

3. Cambium

4. Meristem

The correct answer is: Cambium

The part of the plant stem that produces all new cells is the cambium. This tissue is a type of lateral meristem that is responsible for secondary growth in plants, allowing them to increase in thickness. The cambium layer actively divides to create new cells, contributing to the formation of both phloem and xylem. Phloem is involved in the transport of nutrients, mainly sugars produced through photosynthesis, while xylem transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant. However, neither phloem nor xylem produces new cells; instead, they are the products of the cambium's cell division. The meristem is a more general term that refers to any region of undifferentiated cells capable of division, including the primary growth area in the tips of roots and shoots. While it is true that meristems are involved in producing new cells, the specific role of producing new cells within the stem specifically points to the cambium.