Let me share with you a difference between Primary growth and Secondary growth.
| Aspect | Primary Growth | Secondary Growth |
| Introduction | A type of growth that occurs at the apical meristems (tips) of roots and shoots. | A type of growth that occurs at the lateral meristems (cambium) in stems and roots. |
| Tissues involved | · Primary meristems (protoderm
· Ground meristem |
· Cambium and its derivatives
· Secondary meristems (vascular cambium and cork cambium) |
| Tissues produced | · Primary tissues: epidermis, ground tissue
· Primary vascular tissues |
· Secondary tissues: secondary xylem (wood) and secondary phloem
· Cork and secondary cortex |
| Significance | Lengthens the plant in height and depth. | Increases the plant’s girth or diameter. |
| Cell division pattern | Cell division is primarily longitudinal, resulting in elongation. | Cell division is predominantly radial, leading to an increase in girth. |
| Timing | Active in the early stages of plant development. | Becomes prominent in woody plants after the completion of primary growth. |
| Examples | · Elongation of stems and roots in young plants | · Thickening of tree trunks
· Branches and roots in mature plants |