Root and Shoot System Variations — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptFlowering plants exhibit enormous variation in shape, size, structure, mode of nutrition, life span, habit and habitat. They have well developed root and shoot systems. Root system is either tap root or fibrous. Generally, dicotyledonous plants have tap roots while monocotyledonous plants have fibrous roots. The roots in some plants get modified for storage of food, mechanical support and respiration. The shoot system is differentiated into stem, leaves, flowers and fruits. The morphological features of stems like the presence of nodes and internodes, multicellular hair and positively phototropic nature help to differentiate the stems from roots. Leaf is a lateral outgrowth of stem developed exogenously at the node. These are green in colour to perform the function of photosynthesis. Leaves exhibit marked variations in their shape, size, margin, apex and extent of incisions of leaf blade (lamina).
Which of the above statements are correct? S1: Stems are generally characterised by their positively phototropic nature. S2: Roots are typically positively phototropic, ensuring their growth towards light for photosynthetic activity. S3: The stem develops from the plumule of the embryo and bears distinct nodes and internodes. S4: Adventitious roots exclusively develop from the plumule of the embryo. S5: Leaves originate from shoot apical meristems and are arranged in an acropetal order.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — S1, S3 and S5 are correct
Let's evaluate each statement based on NCERT Chapter 5: S1: Stems are generally characterised by their positively phototropic nature. (Correct) The summary section explicitly states: 'The morphological features of stems like... positively phototropic nature help to differentiate the stems from roots.' (Page 69). S2: Roots are typically positively phototropic, ensuring their growth towards light for photosynthetic activity. (Incorrect) Roots generally grow away from light (negatively phototropic) and into the soil (positively geotropic). Photosynthesis is primarily carried out by leaves and stems, not roots. This statement is incorrect on two counts. S3: The stem develops from the plumule of the embryo and bears distinct nodes and internodes. (Correct) This is explicitly stated in the description of the stem: 'It develops from the plumule of the embryo... The stem bears nodes and internodes.' (Page 59). S4: Adventitious roots exclusively develop from the plumule of the embryo. (Incorrect) Adventitious roots arise from parts of the plant other than the radicle (Page 58). Plumule develops into the stem. S5: Leaves originate from shoot apical meristems and are arranged in an acropetal order. (Correct) This is stated in the description of leaves: 'Leaves originate from shoot apical meristems and are arranged in an acropetal order.' (Page 59). Therefore, S1, S3, and S5 are the correct statements. Option A correctly identifies S1, S3 and S5 as correct. Options B, C, and D include incorrect statements.
What does NCERT say about Flowering plants exhibit enormous?
Has this concept appeared in NEET?
Which chapter is this from?
Through deep analysis of NEET and NTA, 176 of the 180 ReNEET 2026 (June 21) questions were already in the MedicNEET question bank before the exam.
176/180MedicNEET's Biology question bank is built from the same NCERT lines NTA picks repeatedly. Not random MCQs — questions crafted exactly like NTA crafts them.