Which plant tissue is the region of rapid cell division contributing to growth?

• A. Xylem
• B. Phloem
• C. Meristem
• D. Cortex

Answer: (C)

Meristematic tissue contains actively dividing cells that drive plant growth. These cells are small, with dense cytoplasm and large nuclei, and they divide by mitosis to create new cells that differentiate into various tissues. Growth in length happens at apical meristems located at the tips of roots and shoots, while growth in girth involves lateral meristems such as cambium. Xylem and phloem are transport tissues derived from differentiating meristem cells, not the sites of rapid division themselves. The cortex is mainly a storage and support tissue, not the primary region of rapid cell division. So, the region responsible for rapid cell division contributing to growth is meristem.