The process of growth is divided into 3 stages:

Cell division stage

Cell enlargement stage
Cell differentiation stage
 primary growth secondary growth
growth that occurs after growth in diameter of
germination stem, root & trunk of plants

Perennials plants that continue their growth from

year to year
Annuals plant that complete their whole life cycle in
a year
Biennials plants that have 2-year life cycle
 There are some
plants that do not
show secondary
growth and live as
annuals and
biennials, for
example, the pea
plant, Pisum
sativum.
 Primary growth begins by rapid cell division in a
group of cells at the tip of stem and root.
This group of cells divides by mitosis and forms the
apical meristem.
Growth at apical meristem leads to the formation of
mature primary tissue of the stem and root.
E.g: cortex, primary phloem, primary xilem
(in vascular bundle).
results in an increase in length of stem and root.
 After
primary growth complete, secondary growth
continues in woody plants like trees and shrubs.
In
non-woody plants, herbs, no secondary growth
occurs.
Secondary growth is the result of cell divisions in
lateral meristems of both stem and root.
Lateral
meristem are the vascular cambium and
cork cambium.
Vascular
cambium is located between primary
phloem and primary xylem in vascular bundles
Cork cambium is located below epidermis.
 Parenchyma cells divide actively
The vascular cambium join up to form ring
The cell of cambium ring divide
Outer cells become the secondary phloem
tissue and secondary xylem tissue
Smaller ring in the rings form medullary rays
connecting the cortex with the pith
Secondary xylem develops thick walls with deposition
lignin. It then becomes wood.
Cork cambium beneath divides actively to form outer cork
and the inner secondary cortex.
External cork layer forms a protective bark at the
surface of the woody stem.
 In trees of temperate climates, the activity of the
vascular cambium is not uniform throughout the
year.
In spring the cambium is more active and form
larger and thinner-walled xylem vessels (spring
wood)
In autumn the cambium is less active and
forms narrower vessels and fibers (autumn wood)
These two kind of wood are seen together in
transverse sections of the stems, as concentric
rings called annual growth rings.
 Each annual ring indicates 1 years growth.
Total number of annual rings, indicate the age of
the tree.
Trees in tropical countries, do dot show clear
annual rings because the climate is not
distinctly seasonal.
 Primary growth:
Responsible for the increase in height of a plant
It anchors the plant firmly to the soil

Secondary growth:
Enables plants to live longer & grow throughout their life
They are able to support their increasing weight
The thickened cork & bark reduce the evaporation of water
from the surface of the stem
Protect the plants attack by insects and parasitic fungi
They also guard the plant body against variation in external
temperature.
 The plant have commercial value and produce the most
valuable timber, eg: meranti, kapur, keriung and cengal.
The timber may be used as beams for buildings, for durable
fencing and high-quality furniture.
The wood and bark of plants can be used to produce useful
resins and oils.
Hibiscus, yellow bells and bougainvillea are valuable as
ornamental plants in gardens and parks.
Durian tree, mango tree and rambutan tree produce a
substantial quantity of fruits for local consumption and for
export.