Plants show the "open form of growth" because meristems (small groups of dividing cells) keep adding new cells to the plant body for the whole life of the plant. This is why plant growth is indeterminate (unlimited). Memory hook: "Open = never closed" — the meristem door stays open, so the plant can keep growing at its tips forever.
Meristems at the root tip and shoot tip keep dividing for the whole life of the plant, always adding new cells. This "open" activity is why plant growth is indeterminate (unlimited).
Your doubts, answered
What exactly is the 'open form of growth'?
It means new cells are always being added to the plant body by the activity of the meristem. The meristematic cells keep dividing all through the plant's life, so the plant is never 'finished' growing. NCERT defines it directly: this form of growth wherein new cells are always added by the meristem is called the open form of growth.
Why is it called 'open' and not 'closed'?
Because the growth is not stopped or fixed at a set size. In a 'closed' body (like most animals) growth stops after adulthood. In plants the meristem stays active, so growth is left open — the plant can keep adding roots, shoots, leaves and branches. This is the same idea as indeterminate growth.
Where are the meristems located that cause this growth?
At the growing points of the plant. The root apical meristem sits at the root tip and the shoot apical meristem sits at the shoot tip. These apical meristems keep dividing and let the plant grow in length (primary growth). Because they stay active, the plant keeps growing throughout its life.
Is 'open form of growth' the same as 'indeterminate growth'?
Yes, they describe the same fact. Open form of growth is the reason plant growth is indeterminate (unlimited). The meristem never permanently stops, so there is no fixed final size — a favourite NEET point where the trap option says growth is 'determinate'.
Do the cells made by the meristem keep dividing forever?
No. Only the meristematic cells retain the power to divide. As NCERT says, a cell soon loses the capacity to divide and such cells make up the plant body. So the meristem is a small permanent factory; the cells it pushes out mature and stop dividing, but the meristem itself stays open.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Plant growth is generally determinate (fixed final size). ✓ Plant growth is generally indeterminate because meristems give plants the capacity for unlimited, open growth throughout life. 🧠 NEET repeats the exact wording 'Plant growth is generally determinate' as the WRONG statement. Read the option carefully: determinate is false, indeterminate is true.
Real NEET questions
NEET 2016/2017/2019/2020/2021/2023
Which of the following statements is not correct?
A · Plant growth is generally determinate. ✓
B · Plant growth is measurable.
C · Phase of cell elongation of plant cells is characterized by increased vacuolation.
D · Cells in the meristematic phase of growth exhibit abundant plasmodesmatal connections.
Solution: Statement A is not correct. Plant growth is generally INDETERMINATE, not determinate, because meristems keep adding new cells all through the plant's life (open form of growth). The other three statements are all correct as per NCERT. This exact statement has been repeated across NEET 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023.
Solved Plant Growth and Development NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
