Question

The correct sequence of the development process in a plant cell is
A. Cell division, elongation, differentiation, maturation
B. Elongation, cell division, maturation, differentiation
C. Differentiation, cell division, maturation, elongation
D. Cell division, differentiation, maturation, elongation

Answer 1

Hint: After cell division, cell undergoes different stages of development. Cell division occurs at meristems from which it undergoes different development stages. In differentiation, cells acquire special features to perform a certain specific function.

Complete answer:
The correct sequence of the development process in a plant cell is cell division, elongation, differentiation and maturation. The development process of a cell refers to the changes that occur in the cell from cell division to maturation. The source of all plant cells i.e. xylem phloem, pith, etc. is apical and shoots meristem. At the meristem, cell division occurs, and after division, daughter cells further undergo differentiation, elongation and maturation.
i. Cell division: It is the formation of new cells from the existing cell. The existing cell undergoes stages of division to give new daughter cells.
ii. Elongation: Elongation is the growth period, where the cell grows in size, shape. Elongation happens after cell division and after cell division, the cell undergoes differentiation. Elongation can be associated with active growth period in the plant.
iii. Differentiation: Differentiation is referred to as the specialization of the cell. To perform a certain specific function in plants, cells undergo differentiation. E.g. daughter cells differentiate into water-conducting cells (xylem and phloem) or storage cells (parenchymatous), etc.
iv. Maturation: It is the last stage in the developmental process. In this stage, cells cannot revert to previous developmental stages. Cell matures and then later undergoes cell death.

Additional information: Cell division is of two types:-
a. Mitosis: In this type of cell division, cells undergo division with no change in the number of sets of chromosomes i.e. haploid (n) cells produce haploid (n) daughter cells diploid (2n) cells produce diploid (2n) daughter cells.
b. Meiosis: In this type of cell division, the number of ploidy i.e. the number of chromosome in the daughter cells reduce to half e.g diploid (2n) organism produce haploid (n) daughter cells

Note: Differentiation and elongation are not clearly distinguishable in cells, as cells differentiate and grow simultaneously. Daughter cells formed after cell division are of the same type in all aspects but they grow and differentiate resulting in developing into different types of specialized cells.