(a) Give an account of activity of cambium in the secondary growth of the stem.
(b) Write three differences between C3 and C4 cycles.
(a) Activity of cambium in the secondary growth of the stem:
(i) Formation of cambium rings: The vascular bundles of dicot stem have stripes of cambium in between xylem and phloem and is known as intrafascicular cambium.
During secondary growth, the cells of medullary rays in a line with the intrafascicular cambium develop merismatic activity and from stripes of cambium called interfascicular cambium. Both these form cambium ring or phellogen.
(ii) Formation of secondary tissues : This cambium ring becomes active a whole and starts cutting new cells. The cells differentiate to secondary xylem and phloem.
(iii) Secondary Medullary rays : Certain cells of cambium form some narrow bands of living parenchyma cells passing through secondary xylem and phloem are called secondary medullary rays.
(iv) Annual rings : The growth in successive years appears in the form of concentric rings or annual rings.

(b)
C3 Plants |
C4 Plants |
RuBP is the CO2 acceptor. |
PEP is the CO2 acceptor |
First stable product is phosphoglyceric acid. |
First stable product is oxaloacetic acid. |
Kranz anatomy is not present |
Kranz anatomy is present |
Process is slow and less efficient |
Process is fast and efficient |
(c)
(i) Advantages of hydroponics :
a. The importance of a particular element can be studied using the process
b. Through hydroponic gardening; plants can be grown anywhere as long as their growth requirements are met.
(ii) Turgidity to plants :
i. Turgidity helps to maintain the shape of the leaves.
ii. Turgid condition prevents wilting and allows more exposure to the sunlight.
(iii) Advantages of Cross pollination :
Cross pollination helps in creating the variation in species of plant.
Cross pollination results in the formation of new combinations.